THE FLATMATES

Language point:
Idioms with 'foot'
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The Flatmates Idioms with 'foot'

You can see this language point online at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode134/languagepoint.shtml

Idioms use language metaphorically rather than literally. If you 'put your best foot
forward' you try as hard as you can (the metaphorical meaning), you don't actually
decide that your left foot is better than your right foot and put that one in front when
you walk (the literal meaning).

Idioms are also fixed groups of words so you can't change the wording of an idiom.
For example, you can say She has one foot in the grave' to mean that she is very old
and very ill but you can't say 'She has one arm in the grave'.

Idioms with 'foot'

the shoe / boot is on the other foot:
the situation is now the opposite of what it was, often because someone who was in a
position of weakness now has power
The boss didn't use to take her ideas seriously at all. But since she got that big contract,
the shoe's on the other foot. Now he always listens to her ideas.

to put your foot in it:

to say something accidentally which embarrasses or upsets someone
She really put her foot in it with Colin. She didn't know he'd failed his exams.

to put your foot down:

to say very strongly that something must be done in a certain way
I thought mum would let me stay out late on Saturday night but she really put her
foot down and said I had to be home by 10.30.

to get a foot in the door:

to get a low level start in a business or organization, hoping that it will offer you the
chance of something more successful later
It's not a great job. But it's a foot in the door and he really wants to make his career
in the TV industry.

to wait on someone hand and foot:

to do everything for someone so that they do not have to do anything for themselves
You need to do some of the washing up here. It's not my job to wait on you hand and
foot.

to keep / have a foot in both camps

to be involved with two groups of people who have different aims, opinions or interests
The football manager used to be a player himself. He tries to keep a foot in both
camps but it's difficult for him not to always agree with what the other managers say.

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Idioms with 'foot'

to drag your feet
to do something slowly with little enthusiasm because you don't want to do it
There's no point dragging your feet. You'll have to tidy your room eventually.

to get off on the wrong / right foot

to make a successful / unsuccessful start in something
We really got off on the wrong foot. The first time I met her, she lit up a cigarette,
without asking if it was OK. We're the best of friends now but she knows she has to
smoke outside!

to land on your feet

to return to a good situation after having problems, particularly because of good luck
rather than skill or hard work
He isn't really qualified for the job, but he's landed on his feet because the boss likes
him and is looking for someone to take over from him when he retires.

to foot the bill

to pay for something that is expensive or would usually be divided by a number of
people
We all went out for a meal and my dad said he'd foot the bill as a birthday treat for
me.

Vocabulary:
to babysit
to look after

to get my feet wet

to start doing something for the first time

to jump in
to become involved in a situation very quickly (often without thinking about it first)

at the coal-face
doing the hardest part of a job (rather than overseeing or managing others doing it)

an empire
a large powerful group of companies run by one person

Would you like to try an online quiz about this language point? Go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode134/quiz.shtml

Or you can download the quiz from:

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode134/fm_quiz_070226.pdf

For more information about this language point go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv115.shtml

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