foot|hills /fʊ th I lz/ N‑PLURAL The foothills of a mountain or a range of mountains are the lower hills or mountains around its base. □ [+ of ] Pasadena lies in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains.
foot|hold /fʊ thoʊld/ (footholds )
1 N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] A foothold is a strong or favourable position from which further advances or progress may be made. □ [+ in ] If British business is to have a successful future, companies must establish a firm foothold in Europe.
2 N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] A foothold is a place such as a small hole or area of rock where you can safely put your foot when climbing. □ [+ on ] He lowered his legs until he felt he had a solid foothold on the rockface beneath him.
footie /fu ti/ also footy N‑UNCOUNT Footie is the same as football . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …footie fans. □ …a game of footie.
foot|ing /fʊ t I ŋ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu on N ] If something is put on a particular footing , it is defined, established, or changed in a particular way, often so that it is able to develop or exist successfully. □ The new law will put official corruption on the same legal footing as treason.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu on N ] If you are on a particular kind of footing with someone, you have that kind of relationship with them. □ They decided to put their relationship on a more formal footing. □ They are now trying to compete on an equal footing.
3 PHRASE If a country or armed force is on a war footing , it is ready to fight a war. □ The president placed the republic on a war footing.
4 N‑UNCOUNT You refer to your footing when you are referring to your position and how securely your feet are placed on the ground. For example, if you lose your footing , your feet slip and you fall. □ He was cautious of his footing, wary of the edge. □ He lost his footing and slid into the water.
foot|lights /fʊ tla I ts/ N‑PLURAL In a theatre, the footlights are the row of lights along the front of the stage.
foot|locker /fʊ tlɒkə r / (footlockers ) also foot locker N‑COUNT A footlocker is a large box for keeping personal possessions in, especially one that is placed at the end of a bed. [AM ]
foot|loose /fʊ tluːs/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as footloose , you mean that they have no responsibilities or commitments, and are therefore free to do what they want and go where they want. □ People that are single tend to be more footloose.
2 PHRASE If you describe someone as footloose and fancy-free , you mean that they are not married or in a similar relationship, and you therefore consider them to have very few responsibilities or commitments.
foot|man /fʊ tmən/ (footmen ) N‑COUNT A footman is a male servant who typically does jobs such as opening doors or serving food, and who often wears a special uniform.
foot|note /fʊ tnoʊt/ (footnotes )
1 N‑COUNT A footnote is a note at the bottom of a page in a book which provides more detailed information about something that is mentioned on that page.
2 N‑COUNT If you refer to what you are saying as a footnote , you mean that you are adding some information that is related to what has just been mentioned. □ As a footnote, I should add that there was one point on which his bravado was justified.
3 N‑COUNT If you describe an event as a footnote , you mean that it is fairly unimportant although it will probably be remembered. □ I'm afraid that his name will now become a footnote in history.
foot|path /fʊ tpɑːθ, -pæθ/ (footpaths ) N‑COUNT A footpath is a path for people to walk on, especially in the countryside.
foot|plate /fʊ tple I t/ (footplates ) N‑COUNT On a steam train, the footplate is the place where the driver stands. [mainly BRIT ]
foot|print /fʊ tpr I nt/ (footprints ) N‑COUNT A footprint is a mark in the shape of a foot that a person or animal makes in or on a surface.
foot|sie /fʊ tsi/ PHRASE If someone plays footsie with you, they touch your feet with their own feet, for example under a table, often as a playful way of expressing their romantic or sexual feelings towards you. [INFORMAL ]
foo t sol|dier (foot soldiers ) N‑COUNT The foot soldiers of a particular organization are people who seem unimportant and who do not have a high position but who do a large amount of very important and often very boring work.
foot|sore /fʊ tsɔː r / ADJ If you are footsore , you have sore or tired feet after walking a long way.
foot|step /fʊ tstep/ (footsteps )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A footstep is the sound or mark that is made by someone walking each time their foot touches the ground. □ I heard footsteps outside.
2 PHRASE If you follow in someone's footsteps , you do the same things as they did earlier. □ My father is extremely proud that I followed in his footsteps and became a doctor.
foot|stool /fʊ tstuːl/ (footstools ) N‑COUNT A footstool is a small low stool that you can rest your feet on when you are sitting in a chair.
foot|wear /fʊ tweə r / N‑UNCOUNT Footwear refers to things that people wear on their feet, for example shoes and boots. □ Some footballers get paid millions for endorsing footwear.
foot|work /fʊ twɜː r k/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Footwork is the way in which you move your feet, especially in sports such as boxing, football, or tennis, or in dancing. □ This exercise improves your coordination, balance, timing and footwork.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to someone's footwork in a difficult situation, you mean the clever way they deal with it. □ In the end, his brilliant legal footwork paid off.