- foot
- 1
/fUt/ noun plural feet
/fi:t/ (C)
1 BODY PART the part of your body that you stand on and walk on: I have a really bad pain in my foot.2 on foot if you go somewhere on foot, you walk there: It takes about 30 minutes on foot, or 10 minutes if you go by car.3 MEASUREMENT written abbreviation ftplural foot or feet a unit for measuring length, equal to 12 inches (inch1 (1)) or about 30 centimetres: He's six feet tall, with blonde hair and a moustache.4 BOTTOM PART the foot of the lowest part of something such as a mountain, tree, or set of stairs, or the end of a bed where your feet go: a stunningly beautiful lake at the foot of the mountain5 get/jump/rise to your feet etc to stand up after you have been sitting: Mike leapt to his feet and ran towards the window.6 be on your feeta) to be standing for a long time without having time to sit down: The worst thing about working in the shop is that you're on your feet all day.b) to stand up: As soon as the bell rang the class were on their feet and out of the door.c) to feel better again after being ill and in bed: We'll soon have you on your feet again.7 be rushed off your feet/be run off your feet to be very busy: Just before Christmas, most of the salespeople are rushed off their feet.8 set foot in to go to or enter a place: She swore she would never set foot in his house ever again.9 be/get under your feet to annoy you by always being in the same place as you and preventing you from doing what you want: I hate summer vacation. The kids are under my feet all day long.10 put your foot downa) to say very firmly that someone must do something or must stop doing something: You'll just have to put your foot down and tell him he can't stay out on school nights.b) informal to make a car go faster11 put your feet up informal to relax, especially by sitting with your feet supported on something12 put your foot in it especially BrE, put your foot in your mouth especially AmE to say something without thinking carefully, so that you embarrass or upset someone: I've really put my foot in it this time. I didn't realize that was her husband!13 have two left feet informal to be very clumsy (1): Dan's got two left feet when it comes to dancing.14 get off on the wrong foot to start a relationship badly, usually by having an argument: Simon and I got off on the wrong foot but we're good friends now.15 not put a foot wrong especially BrE to do everything right and make no mistakes, especially in your job16 have/keep both feet on the ground to think in a sensible and practical way and not have ideas or aims that will be impossible to achieve17 fall/land on your feet to get into a good situation because you are lucky, especially after being in a difficult situation: Don't worry about Nina, she always falls on her feet.18 get your foot in the door to get your first opportunity to work in a particular organization or industry19 have a foot in both camps to be involved with or connected with two opposing groups of people20 have one foot in the grave humorous to be very old or very ill21 ...my foot! BrE old-fashioned used to show that you do not believe something that someone has just said: -50 my foot! It'll cost -200 at least.22 leave feet first humorous to die before you leave a place or job: If you keep fooling around with that gun you'll be leaving this camp feet first.23 feet of clay someone that you admire who has feet of clay has faults and weaknesses that you did not realize they had24 foot soldier/patrol a soldier or group of soldiers that walks and does not use a horse or a vehicle25 foot passenger a passenger on a ship who has not brought a car with them26 -footeda) left-footed/right-footed using your left foot or right foot when you kick the ballb) flat-footed/four-footed having a particular kind or number of feet27 foot pedal/brake/pump etc a machine or control that you operate using your feet28 SOCK the foot the part of a sock that covers your foot: There's a hole in the foot of my stocking.29 POETRY technical a part of a line of poetry in which there is one strong beat 2 (3) and one or two weaker ones—see also: the boot is on the other foot boot 1 (6), get/have cold feet cold 1 (7), underfoot, drag your feet/heels drag 1 (8), find your feet find 1 (22), from head to foot head 1 (2), stand on your own (two) feet stand 1 (32), sweep sb off thrir feet sweep 1 (12) 2 verb foot the bill to pay for something, especially something expensive that you do not want to pay for: He ordered a load of drinks and then left me to foot the bill!
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.
