English Profile

foot · noun C

/fʊt/Full view

foot (BODY PART)

A1 one of the two flat parts on the ends of your legs that you stand on

Dictionary examples:

I've hurt my left foot.

bare feet

Learner example:

Then, in just a few minutes, we are going to put our feet in the hot sand. (Key English Test; A2; Portuguese)

on foot

A2 walking

Dictionary example:

Are you riding your bicycle or going on foot?

Learner example:

It isn't far away from the main building [-] it's about 15 minutes on foot. (Key English Test; A2; Turkish)

foot (MEASUREMENT)

B1 a unit of measurement, equal to twelve inches or 0.3048 meters

Dictionary examples:

The man was standing only a few feet away.

She is five feet, three inches/5′ 3″ tall.

She is five foot three.

Learner example:

The room is about 150 square feet, rectangular in shape, with a window opposite the door and a pair of sliding doors to the balcony at one end. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Chinese)

the foot of sth

C1 the bottom of something such as stairs, a hill, a bed, or a page

Dictionary example:

Put the notes at the foot of the page.

Learner example:

Every year, expedition-groups from almost every country met at the foot of the highest mountain in the world to conquer it. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; German)

set foot in/on sth

C1 to go into a place or onto a piece of land

Dictionary example:

He told me never to set foot in his house again.

Learner example:

I dream of being the first one to set foot on a white sandy beach, to admire a new kind of vegetation: cranberry bushes, sweet potatoes, wild turkeys, a different climate; how scary and exciting at the same time! (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; French)

put your foot down

C2 to tell someone in a strong way that they must do something or must stop doing something

Dictionary example:

When she started borrowing my clothes without asking, I had to put my foot down.

Learner example:

Finally, I would like to appeal to other readers of the "Cyprus Weekly," who might even be living near my area, to put your foot down and apply any pressure you can on people who can do something about the situation. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

put your feet up

C2 to relax, especially by sitting with your feet supported above the ground

Dictionary example:

Put your feet up for half an hour before the kids get home.

Learner example:

You have done your work and now you can put your feet up. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Japanese)

put your foot in your mouth

C2 to say something you should not say, especially something embarrassing

Dictionary example:

He makes outrageous comments and is always putting his foot in his mouth.

get/start off on the wrong foot

C2 to start a relationship or activity badly

Dictionary example:

He got off on the wrong foot with my parents by arriving late.

Learner example:

One of the greatest pleasure[s] of reading "The Remains of the Day" would be to see the gradual development of the relationship between Stevens and Miss Kenton. From the beginning, they get off on the wrong foot. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Korean)

get/rise to your feet

C2 to stand up after you have been sitting

Dictionary example:

The audience rose to their feet.

Learner example:

The capacity crowd rose to their feet to cheer Dylan and his band; since then I understood why his fans worship him like a god. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

foot · verb

/fʊt/

foot the bill (IDOM)

C2 to pay for something that costs a lot of money

Dictionary example:

His parents can’t afford to foot the bill for his college education.

Learner example:

Only one problem arouse, which is who is going to foot the bill because such a factory is quite expensive. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)