footle
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Is this business on a firm footing? (=properly planned, with enough money to support it) | Tension was high, and the army was put on a war footing. | I like to keep my relationship with my colleagues on a business footing; it doesn't do to get too friendly. | They all started off on an equal footing.
foo·tle /'fu:tl/ v [(ABOUT, AROUND)] old-fash infml to behave in a careless way, without giving serious attention to what one is doing: Get on with your work and stop footling about. -> see also FOOTLING
foot·lights /'futlaits/ n [P] a row of lights along the front edge of the floor of a stage at the theatre, to show up the actors
foot·ling /'fu:lin/ adj old-fash derog worthless; unimportant: Don't waste my time with such footling questions. -> see also FOOTLE
'foot ,locker n AmE a strong, usually metal box which can be locked; usually used by soldiers and placed at the bottom end of the bed
foot·loose /'futlu:s/ adj free to go wherever one pleases and do what one likes; having no family or business duties to limit one's freedom: I wish I could be footloose and fancy-free like you.
foot·man /'futmən/ n pl. -men /mən/ a manservant who opens the front door, introduces visitors, waits at table etc, and is often dressed in a uniform
foot·note /'futnəut/ n a note at the bottom of a page in a book, to explain some word or sentence, add some special remark or information etc
foot·pad /'futpæd/ n old use a thief who attacks travellers on the roads and takes their money -> compare HIGHWAYMAN
foot·path /'futpa:θ||-pæθ/ n pl. -paths /pa:ðz||pæðz/ especially BrE a narrow path or track for people to walk on: A public footpath led across the fields.
foot·plate /'futpleit/ n (especially formerly) a metal plate covering the floor of a railway engine, where the people driving the train stand
foot·print /'fut,print/ n a mark made by the foot of a person or animal: The hunter recognized the footprints of a bear near the river bank. | Who left these muddy footprints on the kitchen floor? -> see picture at PRINT¹
foot·race /'fut-reis/ n a race for runners, usually over level ground
foot·sie /'futsi/ n infml play footsie (with someone): a) to rub one's feet on someone else's in a sexually playful way: They were playing footsie under the table. b) AmE to work together (with someone), especially in a way that is not completely honest or fair: Senators and congressmen play footsie (with each other) while the situation gets steadily worse.
Footsie, the an informal name for the FT 100 Share Index
foot·slog /'futslog||-slo:g/ v -gg- [I] BrE infml to march or walk a long way in tiring conditions --~ging n [U]
foot·sore /'futsɔ:r/ adj having tender, painful, or swollen feet, especially as a result of much walking: After a long day's walk in the country, they came home hungry and footsore.
foot·step /'futstep/ n 1 (the sound of) a person's step: Her footsteps were clearly marked in the snow. | He heard soft footsteps coming up the stairs. 2 the distance covered by one step: The servant walked two or three footsteps behind his master. -> see also follow in the footsteps of (FOLLOW)
foot·stool /'futstu:l/ n a low support on which a seated person can rest their feet
foot·wear /'futwεr/ n [U] shoes, boots etc worn on the feet: You can buy shoelaces in the footwear department.
foot·work /'futw3:k||-w3:rk/ n [U] the use of the feet, especially skilfully in sports, dancing etc: Her footwork is very poor.
foot·y, footie /'futi/ n [U] BrE infml football: footy fans
fop /fɒp||fa:p/ n derog a man who takes too much interest in his clothes and personal appearance —pish adj —pishness n [U]
for¹ fɔ:r; strong fɔ:r / prep 1 intended to belong to or be given to: I've got a present for you. | They've bought some new chairs for the office. | Save some of the cake for Arthur. 2 (shows purpose): This knife is for cutting bread. | What's this handle for? (=What is its purpose?) | I've sent my coat away for cleaning. (=to be cleaned) 3 instead of; so as to help: Let me lift that heavy box for you. 4 as a help to; in order to improve the condition of: The doctor's given her some medicine for her cold. 5 because of: He was rewarded for his bravery. | There's a prize for finding the most mistakes. | We could hardly see for the thick mist. | He couldn't speak for laughing. | For several reasons, I'd rather not meet him. -> see also for fear of (FEAR¹) 6 at the time of; on the occasion of: We've invited our guests for 9 o'clock. | I've got an appointment with the doctor for the 5th of March. | I'm warning you for the last time. | She's coming home for Christmas. | He bought his son a boat for his birthday. 7 (shows length of time): She didn't answer for several minutes. | I haven't seen her for years. | That's all for today. -> compare SINCE², DURING (USAGE) 8 (shows distance): They ran fast for a mile or two. 9 as regards or in regard to: France is famous for its wines. | I have no ear for music. | I've put my name down for four tickets. | Are you still all right for money? (=Have you enough?) | He has a great respect for his father. | It's difficult for someone in her position to think clearly. | He's a great one for details. (=He always wishes all details to be correct.) | For all (=as far as) I know, he may be dead. | Fortunately for him, he can swim. | The men are all ready for action. | She's the very person for the work. | You're too strong for me! (=much stronger than me) | It's not for the pupil (=it is not suitable for the pupil) to tell the teacher what to do. 10 in order to have, get, or obtain: They're waiting for the bus. | For details of this offer, write to Jones & Co. | The demand for coal is greatest in the winter. | He's gone for a swim. | Run for (=in order to save) your life. | The kids ran through the streets, pressing all the doorbells for a laugh/for fun. | 'Now for (=now I will have/let's have) a nice cool drink,' he said, opening the bottle. 11 (shows payment, price, or amount): I bought this book for £3. | I paid £3 for the book. | These cigarettes are £2 for twenty. | She wouldn't go up in an aircraft for anything. (=whatever she was offered or paid) | He wouldn't harm anybody for (all) the world. (=on any account) 12 as being or as part of: I took him for a fool. | We've got duck for dinner today. | He says so, and I for one believe him. (=I believe him even if no one else does) | I don't want to buy it; for one thing I don't like the colour and for another the price is too high. -> see also for example (EXAMPLE¹), for instance (INSTANCE¹) 13 representing; meaning; as a sign of: What's the word for 'to travel' in French? | Red is for danger. 14 in favour of; in support of; in agreement with; in defence of: I'm all for the young enjoying themselves. | Are you for the government or against it? | He plays football for England. | Let's have three cheers for the captain! 15 towards; so as to reach: The children set off for school. | This train is for Brighton only. (=it doesn't stop anywhere else) | I bought a first-class ticket for Oxford. 16 (following a comparative) after; as the result of; because of: You look all the better for your holiday. | This table's the worse for wear. (=looks old and damaged as the result of long use) 17 considering; considered as; considering that (someone or something) is ...: It's cold for the time of year. | He's heavy for a small boy. 18 (followed by each, every, or a number) in addition to; compared with: For every mistake you make, you'll lose half a mark. | For every three who do agree with you, there are two who don't. 19 (followed by a noun or pronoun and an infinitive with to) (introduces a phrase that is used instead of a CLAUSE) a) as the subject of a sentence, often introduced by it is): For an old man to run fast (=that an old man should run fast) is dangerous. | It isn't convenient for him to visit us (=that he should visit us) next week. b) (following a verb of type L): Our plan was for one of us to travel (=that one of us should travel) by train with all the bags. c) (following an adjective or adverb, especially with too or enough): It's plain for all to see. (=so that all may see it) | He speaks too softly for her to hear. (=so softly that she cannot hear) | My parents don't live near enough for me to visit them very often. d) (following a noun): There's no need for us to argue (=that we should argue) about this. e) (following a verb): I can't bear for her to be angry (=that she should be angry) with me. f) (following than): There's nothing worse than for a person to ill-treat (=than that a person should ill-treat) a child. g) (used instead of a CLAUSE with if): His father must have allowed him to stay up very late, for him to be so tired. (=if he is/was so tired) h) (used instead of a CLAUSE of purpose, where the infinitive may sometimes be left out) I've sent my