hotfoot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, somewhat dated/literary
Quick answer
What does “hotfoot” mean?
To move somewhere quickly and with urgency.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To move somewhere quickly and with urgency.
To hasten or hurry. As an adverb/adjective: with eager haste, at high speed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more common in British English, often found in journalism and novels. In American English, 'hurry' or 'rush' are overwhelmingly preferred.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a slightly old-fashioned or literary flair. Can sound playful or ironic in modern casual speech.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary spoken American English. More likely to be encountered in British media or period pieces.
Grammar
How to Use “hotfoot” in a Sentence
SUBJ hotfoot it (ADV)SUBJ hotfoot (ADV) from/to PLACEVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hotfoot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We must hotfoot it to the pub before last orders.
- The journalist hotfooted from Downing Street to file her story.
American English
- The kids hotfooted it home as soon as the storm started.
- He hotfooted out of the meeting after his embarrassing gaffe.
adverb
British English
- They came hotfoot with the urgent message.
- He went hotfoot to his solicitor for advice.
American English
- She arrived hotfoot from the airport.
- The repairs were done hotfoot after the complaint.
adjective
British English
- His hotfoot arrival from the station left him breathless.
- A hotfoot messenger delivered the news.
American English
- She made a hotfoot departure after the argument.
- The hotfoot pursuit led them through the back alleys.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Very rare. 'The team hotfooted it to the client's office after the crisis call.'
Academic
Extremely rare; stylistically inappropriate for formal academic writing.
Everyday
Informal, used for emphasis or humor. 'I saw the ice cream van and hotfooted it down the street.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hotfoot”
- Using it without 'it' (e.g., 'I hotfooted to the store' is less common than 'I hotfooted it...').
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Confusing it with the noun 'hot foot' (a practical joke involving a match).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word, especially as a verb/adverb ('to hotfoot'). The noun for the practical joke can be written as 'hotfoot' or 'hot foot'.
No, it is too informal and idiomatic. Use 'hurry', 'proceed quickly', or 'rush' instead.
'Race' implies competition or maximum speed, often against someone/something. 'Hotfoot' implies urgent haste towards a destination, often with eagerness or purpose, but not necessarily a competition.
Most commonly, yes, in the phrasal verb 'hotfoot it'. However, it can be used as a simple verb (e.g., 'They hotfooted to the scene') or as an adverb/adjective, though these uses are less frequent.
To move somewhere quickly and with urgency.
Hotfoot: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɒtˈfʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɑːtˈfʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hotfoot it”
- “Come/Go hotfoot”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the soles of your feet getting HOT from running so fast and urgently to your destination.
Conceptual Metaphor
URGENCY IS HEAT / SPEED IS FIRE (feet are hot from friction/speed).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'hotfoot' most naturally?