Foot Idioms: Do you happen to know the meaning of having an itchy foot or getting cold feet? If yes, then brilliant, but if no, then you’ve come to the right place. This article talks about various foot idioms, including itchy foot idiom and cold feet idiom.
In the English language, there are numerous idioms on different topics. Idioms on toes and feet are also present in a considerable number. If you are an excellent native English language speaker, these idioms will help you hold a fluent conversation.
Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.
Since there are many idioms related to the foot, it becomes pretty challenging to keep track of them with their meanings. One might get confused if they are asked to make a foot phrase meaning correctly. Hence for easy remembrance, a list of foot idioms and their proper meaning and examples is provided to you in this article.
Name of Foot Idioms
List of Foot Idioms
- Get your feet wet
- Take the
- load off your feet
- Dead on my feet
- Cold feet
- Find your feet
- Get itchy feet
- Stand on your own two feet
- Sweep someone off their feet
- Think on your feet
- Put one’s foot in one’s mouth
- Put one’s best foot forward
- Be caught on the wrong foot
- Have a foot in both camps
- Get a foot in the door
- Foot the bill
- Start on the right foot
- Have a lead foot
- The shoe on the other foot
- My foot!
- Not put a foot wrong
- Have one foot in the grave
- On foot
- Have the world at one’s feet
- Walk someone off their feet
- Vote with one’s feet
- Under someone’s feet
- Two left feet
- Throw oneself at someone’s feet
- The patter of tiny feet
- Shake the dust from one’s feet
- Sit at one’s feet
- Regain feet
- Put one’s feet up
- Don’t let the grass grow under one’s feet
- Keep both feet on the ground
- Drag one’s feet
- A closed mouth gathers no feet
- Tread on one’s toe
- Pull the rug from under one’s feet
- Feet of clay
- Put one’s foot down
- Shoot oneself in the foot
Meaning and Examples of some commonly used
Get your feet wet
Meaning: To slowly and simply doing a new activity to get oneself accustomed to it.
Example: Jinal finally decided to get her feet wet and start doing yoga.
Take the load off your feet
Meaning: This idiom describes the action of relaxing oneself by sitting or lying down.
Example: After walking for a mile, Molly decided to sit down and take the load off her feet.
Dead on my feet
Meaning: This phrase is utilized when someone is tired yet is continuing to stand or work.
Example: The band were dead on their feet but yet went on performing in the concert.
Cold feet
Meaning: This phrase is utilized when one is uncertain and feels afraid about doing something or lacks courage and confidence.
Example: Troy wanted to participate in the dance competition, but he got cold feet.
Find your feet
Meaning: This idiom describes the situation when one starts feeling comfortable and gains confidence in a new environment or situation.
Example: Julia finally found her feet in America after getting settled.
Get itchy feet
Meaning: This phrase is used when one gets a strong desire to travel somewhere, leaving behind the place they are in.
Example: Due to the pandemic, Gargi couldn’t travel anywhere, but now she has itchy feet and wants to travel.
Stand on your own two feet
Meaning: Used when an individual can support and fund oneself with all their needs without any help from anyone.
Example: Before marriage, I want to stand on my own two feet so that I don’t have to depend on my husband.
Sweep someone off their feet
Meaning: When an individual is successful in attracting another individual towards them in a romantic way.
Example: Jim’s unconditional love and sweet gestures swept Pam off her feet.
Think on your feet
Meaning: This idiom describes the situation where an individual reacts very quickly, keep one’s mind steady, and agile.
Example: During the quiz round, everyone tried their best to think on their feet.
Put one’s foot in one’s mouth
Meaning: This phrase is used when someone does or says something stupid and embarrassing.
Example: Well, we can’t really do anything about it this time. Seriously, when will you get out of the habit of putting your foot in your mouth?
Put one’s best foot forward
Meaning: This phrase is utilized when someone is on their best behavior because they want to gain someone’s approval.
Example: I put my best foot forward for the whole week and convinced my parents of the road trip.
Be caught on the wrong foot
Meaning: This idiom describes the situation when someone is astonished or amazed by something that happens quickly and unpredictably.
Example: She was caught on the wrong foot when he showed up at the airport and proposed to her.
Have a foot in both camps
Meaning: The above phrase refers to someone who prefers to support two opposing sides or belongs to two different groups.
Example: Since both of Olivia’s best friends led two different campaigns, she had her foot in both camps.
Get a foot in the door
Meaning: This idiom means to make the first or initial step towards one’s goal.
Example: Tessa got a foot in the door by finally pursuing the career she wanted.
Foot the bill
Meaning: When one pays for a specific thing which is usually very costly.
Example: Mark decided to take his parents to dinner, and he foots the bill with his first salary.
Start on the right foot
Meaning: This idiom describes the action of making a good impression of oneself before starting a relationship or any activity.
Example: He was very tense before meeting his girlfriend’s parents since he needed to start on the right foot.
Have a lead foot
Meaning: This phrase is utilized to refer to someone who drives dangerously fast in a car.
Example: Elena refused to go with Damon in a car since he has a lead foot and gets into accidents quite frequently
The shoe on the other foot
Meaning: This phrase is used when a particular situation changes to the opposite of what it was.
Example: Every year on Christmas, Angela receives more gifts, but this year the shoe was on the other foot, and her sister received more donations.
My foot!
Meaning: Used to show disapproval regarding something.
Example: “Important work, my foot, he just wants to avoid us,” Henry said when he heard Chris wouldn’t be joining them for the movie.
Not put a foot wrong
Meaning: To not make any mistakes or do anything wrong.
Example: While painting on the vast canvas, Yatora tried his best to not put a foot wrong.
Have one foot in the grave
Meaning: This phrase is utilized when someone is near their death due to illness or simply old age.
Example: When Peter suffered from pneumonia, he thought his one foot was in the grave.
On foot
Meaning: This phrase is used when one prefers walking upon traveling by car or other transportation.
Example: The group of friends decided to explore the surroundings of their new travel destination on foot.
Have the world at one’s feet
Meaning: Used to refer to an highly successful individual and is admired by a considerable number of people.
Example: Even though the band started slow, they had the world at their feet due to their hard work.
Walk someone off their feet
Meaning: Make someone exhausted and tired by making them walk a lot.
Example: While shopping, Cristina and her mom walked off their feet.
Vote with one’s feet
Meaning: This phrase is used to show that one is against supporting a particular organization or product, or a decision by walking off from the organization, or not buying the product, or leaving the place of the decision.
Example: The class showed voted off their feet and left the classroom as we chose the new head boy.
Under someone’s feet
Meaning: Used when someone is annoyed and irritated or is unable to do something they wanted because of the presence of a specific individual near them.
Example: Because Ginny was under my feet the whole week, I couldn’t go shopping.
Two left feet
Meaning: This expression refers to someone who dances in a very awkward and clumsy way.
Example: During the wedding dance rehearsal, John understood his wife had two left feet.
Throw oneself at someone’s feet
Meaning: To ask for forgiveness and mercy or help and protection from someone.
Example: Nick hurriedly came and threw himself at Amy’s feet, promising her never to repeat his mistakes.
The patter of tiny feet
Meaning: This phrase is utilized when someone is going to have a baby.
Example: The family impatiently waits to hear the patter of tiny feet.
Shake the dust from one’s feet
Meaning: Leave from an unpleasant situation or place hurriedly, never to return again.
Example: Veronica was growing impatient at the family gathering and wanted to shake the dust from her feet as fast as possible.
Sit at one’s feet
Meaning: This expression is utilized when someone is learning something from an individual or following an individual’s instructions.
Example: Bill sat at Henry’s feet after he saw Henry playing golf fantastically.
Regain feet
Meaning: To steadily stand up on one’s feet after falling or tumbling.
Example: She was going to fall off the stairs, but at the last moment, she regained her feet.
Put one’s feet up
Meaning: This idiom is used when one finally relaxes by giving their footrest after working consistently.
Example: Victoria deserves to put her feet up because she completed a whole load of work during the week.
Don’t let the grass grow under one’s feet
Meaning: To not sit idly and waste time and instead work.
Example: The teacher asked her students, “don’t let the grass grow under your feet; start doing your homework and revise your chapters.”
Keep both feet on the ground
Meaning: This phrase is used when one maintains their poised and calm demeanor and views everything efficiently and sensibly.
Example: George always keeps both feet on the ground. I have never seen him lose his calm.
Drag one’s feet
Meaning: When one does something very slowly and reluctantly, making it evident that they are not interested in doing it.
Example: Clint had to drag Vanessa’s feet in order to take her out of her house.
A closed mouth gathers no feet
Meaning: This idiom means that if someone remains quiet, then they will not have to worry about saying something embarrassing or wrong.
Example: Georgia knew she would end up saying something wrong, and hence she decided to remain quiet since a closed mouth gathers no feet.
Tread on one’s toe
Meaning: This idiom is used when someone offends an individual by interfering in their matters or trying to take up their responsibilities in a specific area.
Example: Julia offended her colleague by treading on her colleague’s toe regarding the presentation.
Pull the rug from under one’s feet
Meaning: The sudden removal of support or the assistance provided by someone.
Example: By leaving so suddenly, Jim pulled the rug from under Pam’s feet.
Feet of clay
Meaning: This expression is utilized to refer to a person who possesses a flaw that they keep hidden.
Example: It is very accurate when one says that every human being has a foot of clay.
Put one’s foot down
Meaning: When one firmly denies doing something or refuses to accept something.
Example: He was really pissed at Gina, and he decided to put his foot down from the wedding.
Shoot oneself in the foot
Meaning: This phrase is used when one ends up foolishly saying or doing something that will harm themselves.
Example: Clara realized she shot herself in the foot by not taking up the job offer.