English idioms - Feet, heels, toes

ENGLISH IDIOMS & IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
(idioms used in everyday conversational English, with their meaning)
FEET - HEELS - TOES

Idiom	Meaning
Cut the ground from under somebody's feet	When someone cuts the ground from under another's feet, they do something which weakens their position or spoils their plans. "When we launched the new product, we cut the ground from under our competitors' feet."
Drag your feet	If you drag your feet, you delay a decision or participate without any real enthusiasm. "The government is dragging its feet on measures to reduce pollution."
Get cold feet	If you get cold feet about something, you begin to hesitate about doing it; you are no longer sure whether you want to do it or not. "I wanted to enter the competition but at the last minute I got cold feet."
Get one's feet wet	If you get your feet wet (or dip your toes in the water), you start to do something new or unfamiliar or explore new territory for the first time. "It will be a totally new experience for me but I can't wait to get my feet wet!"
Have the world at your feet	If you have the world at your feet, you are extremely successful and greatly admired. "The talented young actress has the world at her feet."
Feet of clay	If someone who is admired is found to have a hidden weakness, fault or defect of character, they are said to have feet of clay. "No one is perfect. Many successful people have feet of clay."
To keep one's feet on the ground	A person who keeps their feet on the ground continues to act in a sensible and practical way, even if they become successful.
To have itchy feet	A person who has itchy feet is someone who finds it difficult to stay in one place and likes travelling and discovering new places. "Scott never stays long anywhere. He's got itchy feet! "
To drag one's feet	If you say that a person is dragging their feet, you think they are unnecessarily delaying a decision which is important to you.
To find your feet	To say that someone in a new situation is finding their feet means that they are learning what to do and gaining self-confidence.
Land on your feet	If you land on your feet, you make a quick recovery after a difficulty such as a business failure, an illness, a loss, etc. "Don't worry about Bob. He always lands on his feet!"
Pull the rug from under someone's feet	If you pull the rug from under someone's feet, you suddenly and unexpectedly remove all help or support. "When Andy's mother stopped sending him money, she pulled the rug from under his feet and forced him to find a job."
Put your feet up	When you put your feet up, you sit down and relax. "You must be tired. Come in and put your feet up."
Rushed off your feet.	If your are rushed off your feet, your are extremely busy. "I'd love to have lunch with you but we're rushed off our feet at the moment at the office."
Stand on your own two feet	If you stand on your own two feet, you are independent and need no help from anyone. "When young people leave home, they learn to stand on their own two feet."
Think on one's feet	A person who thinks on their feet is capable of making good decisions without previous thinking or planning. "Good lawyers need to be able to think on their feet when pleading a case."
Two left feet	If you have two left feet, you are clumsy or awkward in your movements.
A foot in the door	If you say that someone has a foot in the door, you mean that they have a small but successful start in something and will possibly do well in the future. "With today's unemployment, it's difficult to get a foot in the door in any profession."
My foot!	This expression is used to show that you do not believe something that has just been said. "He said he had a summer home? My foot! I doubt if he owns a tent!"
One foot in the grave	A person who is either very old or very ill and close to death is said to have one foot in the grave. "It's no use talking to the owner. The poor man has got one foot in the grave."
Get (or start) off on the right/wrong foot	This expression means to start a relationship well or badly. "I was looking forward to working with Julie but we seem to have started off on the wrong foot."
Put one's foot in one's mouth	If you put your foot in your mouth, you do or say something that offends, upsets or embarrasses someone else. "She really put her foot in her mouth when she mentioned the housewarming party - Andy hadn't been invited!"
Put one's best foot forward	If someone puts their best foot forward, they do something as fast as they can. "It's a long way to the station, but if I put my best foot forward I should catch the next train."
To put one's foot down	To put one's foot down means to exert authority to prevent something from happening
The shoe is on the other foot	When the circumstances have reversed and one person now doing what the the other person did in the past, you can say that the shoe is on the other foot. "I used to advise my children to eat healthy food. Now my daughter is a nutritionist and the shoe is on the other foot - she advises me!"
Shoot yourself in the foot	If you shoot yourself in the foot, you do or say something which is against your own interests. "When Julie was asked at the interview if she had any weaknesses, she really shot herself in the foot the way she answered."
Heels
Achilles' heel	This expression refers to a vulnerable area or weak spot in an otherwise strong situation that could cause one's downfall or failure. "He's extremely intelligent, but his inability to speak in public is his Achilles' heel."
Bring someone to heel	If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner, you bring them to heel. "He had always behaved badly, but the new headmaster managed to bring him to heel."
Cool one's heels	If you are left to cool your heels, someone keeps you waiting. " After rushing to be on time for my appointment, I was left to cool my heels in the waiting room for an hour."
Dig in your heels	If you dig in your heels, you refuse to do something, especially if someone is trying to convince you to do so. "My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an apartment."
Hairy at the heel	A person who is hairy at the heel is thought to be untrustworthy or even dangerous. "Rumour has it that the owner of the club is a bit hairy at the heel."
Toes
Dip one's toes in the water	If you dip your toes in the water (or get your feet wet), you start to do something new or unfamiliar or explore new territory for the first time. "It will be a totally new experience for me but I can't wait to get my feet wet!"
Keep someone on their toes	If you keep someone on their toes, you make them stay alert and ready for action at any time.
Step/tread on someone's toes	If you annoy or irritate somebody by intervening in a situation that is their responsibility, you step on their toes. "I could offer some advice but I'm afraid of stepping on someone's toes."