Britannica Dictionary definition of FOOT
1
[count]
:
the part of the leg on which an animal or person stands and moves
:
the part of the leg below the ankle
-
He was wearing boots on his feet.
-
tracks made by the feet of a bird
-
standing on one foot
-
The people in the crowd began to stamp their feet.
-
She was walking around the house in (her) bare feet. [=she was not wearing any shoes or socks]
-
She was in her stockinged/stocking feet. [=she was wearing socks but no shoes]
-
It's a long hike, but we'll get there if we just keep putting one foot in front of the other. [=if we just keep walking]
-
Wipe your feet [=rub the bottoms of your shoes on the doormat] when you come in.
—
often used before another noun
—
see also athlete's foot, clubfoot, cold feet, flat foot
2
[count]
plural also
foot
:
a unit of measurement equal to ¹/₃ yard (0.3048 meter) or 12 inches
-
a 10-foot pole = a pole 10 feet long
-
He's six feet tall.
-
He's six feet, three inches tall. = He's six foot three.
-
a plant that grows three feet tall = a three-foot-tall plant
3
[singular]
a
:
the lowest part of something
:
bottom
b
:
the end of something that is opposite to the end that is called the head
4
[count]
:
a basic unit of rhythm in a line of poetry made up of a group of syllables that are accented in a certain way
at someone's feet
:
close to someone's feet
—
sometimes used figuratively
-
He was young and fearless, and he felt the world was at his feet. [=felt that he could do great things in the world]
-
She claimed that men fell at her feet. [=that men often fell in love with her]
be run/rushed off your feet
British
drag your feet
—
see 1drag
feet of clay
◊ A person who was admired in the past but who has serious faults or flaws can be described as having feet of clay.
find your feet
:
to start to be comfortable in a new situation
:
to begin to be confident or successful
-
They quickly found their feet in their adopted country.
-
I was away for a long time, so it will take me a while to find my feet again.
get/start off on the right foot
:
to begin a relationship well
get/start off on the wrong foot
:
to begin a relationship badly
get your feet wet
—
see 1wet
get your foot in the door
:
to make the first step toward a goal by gaining entry into an organization, a career, etc.
hand and foot
—
see 1hand
have one foot in the grave
:
to be close to dying because of old age or illness
have/keep your feet on the ground
:
to be a sensible and practical person
let the grass grow under your feet
—
see 1grass
light on your feet
—
see 4light
my foot
informal + somewhat old-fashioned
—
used to express surprise or disagreement
off your feet
:
not in a standing position
:
in or into a sitting or lying position
on your feet
1
:
in a standing position
-
I've been on my feet all day.
-
He jumped over the wall and landed on his feet.
-
They say that no matter how a cat falls, it always manages to land on its feet.
-
By the end of the day the workers were dead on their feet. [=very tired but still standing, working, etc.]
◊ In figurative use, to land on your feet or Brit fall on your feet is to be lucky and be in good condition or in a good situation after having a bad or difficult experience.
2
:
in a good position or condition
3
:
in a healthy condition after an illness or injury
4
:
quickly and while actively doing something
put your best foot forward
1
US
:
to behave very well so that someone will like you and approve of you
2
British
:
to try as hard as possible to do something difficult
put your feet up
informal
:
to sit and relax
:
to not work or be active
put your foot down
1
:
to deal with someone in a harsh or strict way
2
British
:
to make a car go faster
put your foot in your mouth
(chiefly US)
informal
or
put your foot in it
:
to say something that causes someone to be embarrassed, upset, or hurt especially when you did not expect that reaction
shoot yourself in the foot
—
see 1shoot
stand on your own two feet
:
to support yourself without help from other people
sweep (someone) off his/her feet
—
see 1sweep
the shoe is on the other foot
or British
the boot is on the other foot
—
used to say that a situation has changed to the opposite of what it was before
to your feet
:
to a standing position
-
I got/rose to my feet [=I stood up] and left.
-
His inspirational speech brought the crowd to its feet.
-
Everyone in the courtroom came to their feet when the judge entered.
two left feet
◊ A person who dances badly can be described as having two left feet.
under your feet
chiefly British
vote with your feet
—
see 1vote