feet
A1Neutral, used in all registers from highly formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
The plural form of 'foot', referring to the lower extremities of the legs on which a person or animal stands and walks.
A unit of linear measurement equal to twelve inches (30.48 cm). Can also refer to the lowest part or foundation of something (e.g., the foot of a mountain). Figuratively, refers to one's position or footing (e.g., 'get back on your feet').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a unit of measurement, often pluralised even for single measurements in informal contexts (e.g., 'It's six feet tall'). The singular 'foot' is used in formal measurement descriptions (e.g., 'six foot two'). The body part is always 'feet' in plural contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use 'feet' identically. The pronunciation of the vowel differs between UK and US English.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + [verb] + on + [possessive] + feet[Measurement] + feet + tall/long/wideVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get cold feet”
- “put your feet up”
- “feet of clay”
- “land on your feet”
- “vote with your feet”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'We need to get the project back on its feet.'
Academic
Used primarily in scientific contexts describing anatomy or as a unit of measurement.
Everyday
Extremely common for describing body parts, height, and distance.
Technical
Used in engineering, construction, and aviation for measurements (e.g., 'flight level three five zero feet').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He had to foot the bill for the repairs.
- Can you foot it to the station?
American English
- The company will foot the cost.
- I had to foot it home in the rain.
adjective
British English
- She is five feet tall.
- A ten-feet-long pole.
American English
- He's six feet tall.
- A twelve-feet-high ceiling.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My feet are tired after walking.
- The baby has very small feet.
- Please wipe your feet before you come in.
- The table is about three feet wide.
- After the marathon, he could barely feel his feet.
- She got cold feet just before the wedding ceremony.
- The statue's feet of clay were revealed by the scandal.
- He voted with his feet by leaving the unsatisfactory event early.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FEET = 'Find Everything Easily Travelling'. Your feet take you places.
Conceptual Metaphor
STABILITY/BALANCE (e.g., 'stand on your own two feet'), PROGRESS (e.g., 'put your best foot forward'), MEASUREMENT (e.g., 'thinking on a large scale').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating units. Russian speakers might want to use singular 'foot' for a plural measurement (e.g., 'six foot tall' is incorrect).
- In Russian, the idiomatic 'cold feet' ('холодные ноги') is literal, not metaphorical for fear.
Common Mistakes
- Using singular 'foot' for plural contexts (e.g., 'My foot are cold').
- Pronouncing it like 'feat'.
- Misspelling as 'feets' (hypercorrection).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct plural form of 'foot'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are used, but 'six feet tall' is the grammatically correct plural form. 'Six foot tall' is a common informal/colloquial variant, especially before the adjective (e.g., 'a six-foot-tall man').
'Foot' is the singular noun, used for one unit or one body part. 'Feet' is the plural noun, used for more than one.
No, 'feet' is only a noun. The verb is 'to foot' (as in 'to foot the bill').
It means to lose your nerve or courage at the last moment, especially before a significant event like a wedding or a big decision.