Example sentence with word foot?

Example: She hurt her foot while playing soccer

What is foot? Pronunciation and usage in English

foot means . Learn how to pronounce and use foot through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of foot

footnoun

/fʊt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "foot" in English! It's a tricky one for many learners. Here's the breakdown:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

/fʊt/ (This is called the "non-rhotic" pronunciation)

Let's break that down further:

/f/: This is a simple "f" sound, as in "fun."
/ʊt/: This is where it gets interesting. It's a diphthong - that means it's a combination of two vowel sounds blended together.
- /ʊ/: This is a short, rounded "uh" sound, like the "oo" in "book" or "foot" (when you're thinking about the shape of the foot). It's often described as a slightly tighter "uh" than the sound we use for "but." It’s important to make your lips rounded as you say it.
- /t/: This is a standard "t" sound, as in "top."

Here's how to say it rhythmically:

Think of it like this: "foot" - short-uh-t (emphasize the short "uh")

Important Note: Rhotic vs. Non-Rhotic

Rhotic accents (like those in Boston, New York, and many parts of Scotland) pronounce the "r" after a vowel. So, "foot" would sound like "foot-err."
Non-rhotic accents (like most of the US, and Southern England) drop the "r" sound after a vowel. That’s why we say "foot" without the "r."

Resources for Hearing it:

Google Translate: Type "foot" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon. (https://translate.google.com/)
Forvo: (https://forvo.com/word/foot/) - A website where native speakers pronounce words.

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Usage and examples with the word foot in English

Let's break down how to use the word "foot" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. The Body Part (Most Common)

Definition: The lower part of your leg, from the ankle to the toes.
Examples:
- "I hurt my foot when I stubbed it."
- "She wore a beautiful high-heeled foot."
- “He kicked the ball with his foot.”
- "He has a weak foot."

2. Measurement of Length (A Foot)

Definition: A unit of length equal to 12 inches (about 30.48 centimeters).
Examples:
- "The table is three feet wide."
- "How many feet long is the garden?"
- "The water is ankle-deep – about 12 feet deep."
- "He ran a mile in six feet." (meaning six minutes)

3. Foot as in Footsteps/Movement

Definition: The act of walking or stepping.
Examples:
- "I heard the footsteps outside my window."
- "He took a few footsteps towards the door."
- “He had a steady foot as he climbed the steep hill.”

4. Foot (as in a Footprint)

Definition: An impression left by something that has walked or stood on a surface.
Examples:
- "The dog left a muddy footprint in the garden."
- "The archaeologists found ancient footprints in the sand."

5. Foot (as in a Footnote - Rare Usage)

Definition: A note at the bottom of a page indicating the source of information. (This is a more formal and specialized use.)
Example: “The quote is attributed to Smith in a footnote by foot.”

6. Phrasal Verbs with "Foot"

Foot the bill: To pay for something. ("He footed the bill for the whole trip.")
Foot it: To walk quickly, especially when running away or in a hurry. ("We had to foot it to catch the train.")
Foot the mark: To cheat someone. ("He tried to foot the mark out of the sale.")

7. Figurative Uses

"On foot": Walking. “We traveled on foot through the countryside.”
"A foot in the door": A small advantage or opportunity. “Getting that internship was a foot in the door to a better career.”

Tips for Using "Foot" Correctly:

Context is key: The meaning of "foot" is almost entirely determined by how it's used in the sentence.
Be mindful of plural forms: "Feet" is the plural of "foot."

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Synonyms for the word foot

Idioms of the word foot

be rushed/run off your feet

to be extremely busy; to have too many things to do

Weekdays are slow in the restaurant, but at weekends the staff are rushed off their feet.

bind/tie somebody hand and foot

to tie somebody’s hands and feet together so that they cannot move or escape

to prevent somebody from doing what they want by creating rules, limits, etc.

the boot is on the other foot

used to say that a situation has changed so that somebody now has power or authority over the person who used to have power or authority over them

cut the ground from under somebody’s feet

to suddenly cause somebody’s idea or plan to fail by doing something to stop them from continuing with it

drag your feet/heels

to be deliberately slow in doing something or in making a decision

fall/land on your feet

to be lucky in finding yourself in a good situation, or in getting out of a difficult situation

You landed on your feet, getting such a well-paid job with so little experience.
Jim’s always getting himself in trouble, but he usually seems to fall on his feet.

feet first

with your feet touching the ground before any other part of your body

He landed feet first.

(humorous)if you leave a place feet first, you are carried out after you are dead

You'll have to carry me out feet first!

find your feet

to become able to act independently and with confidence

I only recently joined the firm so I'm still finding my feet.

…my foot!

(old-fashioned, informal, humorous)a strong way of saying that you disagree completely with what has just been said

‘Ian can't come because he's tired.’ ‘Tired my foot! Lazy more like!’

from head to foot/toe

covering your whole body

We were covered from head to foot in mud.
She was dressed from head to toe in red.

get/have cold feet

(informal)to suddenly become nervous about doing something that you had planned to do

He was going to ask her but he got cold feet and said nothing.

get your feet wet

(especially North American English, informal)to start doing something that is new for you

At that time he was a young actor, just getting his feet wet.

get/have a/your foot in the door

to manage to enter an organization, a field of business, etc. that could bring you success

I always wanted to work in TV but it took me two years to get a foot in the door.

get/have itchy feet

(informal)to want to travel or move to a different place; to want to do something different

After a few years in one place, I get itchy feet.

get/start off on the right/wrong foot (with somebody)

(informal)to start a relationship well/badly

I seem to have got off on the wrong foot with the new boss.

have feet of clay

to have a fault or weakness in your character

When the actor was imprisoned for drug offences, his fans were upset to find that their hero had feet of clay.

have/keep your feet on the ground

to have a sensible and realistic attitude to life

In spite of his overnight stardom he still manages to keep his feet on the ground.

have/keep a foot in both camps

to be involved in or connected with two different groups, especially ones that oppose each other

have one foot in the grave

(informal)to be so old or ill that you are not likely to live much longer

have two left feet

(informal)to be very awkward in your movements, especially when you are dancing or playing a sport

have the world at your feet

to be very successful and admired

in your stocking(ed) feet

wearing socks or stockings but not shoes

not let the grass grow under your feet

to not delay in getting things done

(put/catch somebody) on the back foot

(to put somebody) at a disadvantage or in difficulty

Advances in drone technology have caught lawmakers on the back foot.
The side that’s on the back foot, struggling to defend, will usually give away more penalties.
We'd like to put the fossil fuel industry on the back foot.

on your feet

completely well or in a normal state again after an illness or a time of trouble

Sue's back on her feet again after her operation.
The new chairman hopes to get the company back on its feet within six months.

on the front foot

at an advantage

They allowed the home side to get on the front foot right at the start.

taking positive steps to achieve something

He has been firmly on the front foot, calling for politicians and police to intervene.

the patter of tiny feet

(informal or humorous)a way of referring to children when somebody wants, or is going to have, a baby

We can't wait to hear the patter of tiny feet.

pull the rug (out) from under somebody’s feet

(informal)to take help or support away from somebody suddenly

put your best foot forward

to make a great effort to do something, especially if it is difficult or you are feeling tired

put your feet up

to sit down and relax, especially with your feet raised and supported

After a hard day's work, it's nice to get home and put your feet up.

put your foot down

to be very strict in opposing what somebody wishes to do

You've got to put your foot down and make him stop seeing her.

(British English)to drive faster

She put her foot down and roared past them.

put your foot in it

to say or do something that upsets, offends or embarrasses somebody

I really put my foot in it with Ella—I didn't know she'd split up with Tom.

put a foot wrong

to make a mistake

In the last two games he has hardly put a foot wrong.

set foot in/on something

to enter or visit a place

the first man to set foot on the moon
I vowed never to set foot in the place again.

set somebody/something on their/its feet

to make somebody/something independent or successful

His business sense helped set the club on its feet again.

shoot yourself in the foot

(informal)to do or say something that will cause you a lot of trouble or harm, especially when you are trying to get an advantage for yourself

sit at somebody’s feet

to admire somebody very much, especially a teacher or somebody from whom you try to learn

stand on your own (two) feet

to be independent and able to take care of yourself

When his parents died he had to learn to stand on his own two feet.

sweep somebody off their feet

to make somebody fall suddenly and deeply in love with you

She’s waiting for some hero to come and sweep her off her feet.

take the weight off your feet

(informal)to sit down and rest, especially when you are tired

Come and sit down and take the weight off your feet for a while.

think on your feet

to be able to think and react to things very quickly and effectively without any preparation

under your feet

in the way; stopping you from working, etc.

I don't want you kids under my feet while I'm cooking.

vote with your feet

to show what you think about something by going or not going somewhere

Shoppers voted with their feet and avoided the store.

wait on somebody hand and foot

(disapproving)to take care of somebody’s needs so well that they do not have to do anything for themselves

He seems to expect me to wait on him hand and foot.

walk somebody off their feet

(informal)to make somebody walk so far or so fast that they are very tired

I hope I haven’t walked you off your feet.

Practice with vocabulary foot

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

The company needs to get a ______ in the door with potential clients before closing a deal.
A proper ergonomic setup ensures that your ______ are comfortably flat on the floor to maintain good posture.
The new software update will significantly improve the system's overall ______.
The architect specified that the building's ______ should be constructed with reinforced concrete to withstand seismic activity.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

During the hike, I twisted my left ______ on an uneven path, making it difficult to continue. a) hand b) foot c) elbow d) wrist
Which of these phrases or words can refer to a unit of measurement? a) meter b) foot c) yard d) inch
The organization struggled to ______ the significant costs of the unexpected repairs after the storm. a) shoulder b) pay c) cover d) foot
To achieve project goals efficiently, effective ______ is crucial among team members. a) cooperation b) collaboration c) coordination d) friction
The CEO gave a brief ______ of the company's financial performance during the quarterly meeting. a) overview b) summary c) synopsis d) detail

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

Rewrite the following sentence using a form of "foot": Original: The company established a presence in the competitive market for the first time.
Rewrite the following sentence using a form of "foot": Original: The construction blueprint indicated the building should be ten units high.
Rewrite the following sentence using a suitable replacement word, without using "foot": Original: The long journey on a rough path made my lower limbs extremely sore.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

foot
feet
performance / efficiency
foundation

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

b) foot
a) meter, b) foot, c) yard, d) inch
a) shoulder, b) pay, c) cover, d) foot
a) cooperation, b) collaboration, c) coordination
a) overview, b) summary, c) synopsis

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

The company managed to get a foot in the door in the competitive market.
The construction blueprint indicated the building should be ten feet high.
The long journey on a rough path made my legs extremely sore.