English Idioms:
itchy feet:having feet that itch; restless, having the desire to wander. I’ve got itchy feet
Cold feet: To become timid or frightened; to have one’s feet seem to freeze with fear.
Example Sentence: I usually get cold feet when I have to speak in public. John got cold feet and wouldn’t run in the race.
Shot oneself in the foot: Make a situation worse for oneself by accident. Example Sentences:
A: Did you meet your new girlfriend’s parents last night?
B: Yes I did.
A: How did it go?
B: I shot myself in the foot when I told her father I was unemployed and lived with my parents.
When Michelle got drunk before her final exam, she was shooting herself in the foot. She failed the test!
During the job interview, Annie managed to shoot herself in the foot when she told the interviewer that she was lazy and often late for work. She didn’t get the job.
Foot idioms at a glance
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to have itchy feet | to want to travel or move somewhere new |
| to get cold feet | to suddenly feel too nervous to do something you planned |
| to shoot yourself in the foot | to do something that hurts your own chances |
| to put your foot in it | to say something embarrassing or tactless by mistake |
| to get off on the wrong foot | to start a relationship badly |
| to put your foot down | to be firm and refuse to allow something |
More examples
- After two years in the same job, Maria had itchy feet and moved to Spain.
- I put my foot in it when I asked her about her ex-boyfriend.
- We got off on the wrong foot, but now we’re good friends.
- My parents put their foot down – no phones at dinner.
Practice
Write one true sentence about yourself with each idiom. Then say them out loud. For more, see our body idioms lessons.
