flat-footed

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled flatfooted

US /ˈflætˌfʊtɪd/ UK /ˌflætˈfʊtɪd/ See IPA manual

Freq #59105

Meanings

1

adv
informal: directly, openly, and without qualification or hesitation

Jim came right out flat-footed and said what he intended to do.
2

adj
caught unprepared and unable to react quickly

The sudden question left the witness flat-footed.
3

adj
having flattened arches or standing with the full soles on the ground

The doctor examined his flat-footed stance before recommending new shoes.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · informal: directly, openly,... directly openly unreservedly

2 adj · caught unprepared and... unpreparedoff guardwrong-footed

3 adj · having flattened arches or... flat-arched

More direct

Opposites

prepared nimble evasive

Word family

Forms flat-footedly

Derived forms flat-footedlyflat-footedness

Related forms flat footflatfoot

Etymology

From flat foot plus -ed. The literal anatomical and stance senses produced several figurative uses: standing squarely became speaking directly, while being unable to shift one's feet quickly became being caught unprepared.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# flat-footed

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adv, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈflætˌfʊtɪd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌflætˈfʊtɪd/
**Frequency rank:** 59105

## Meanings
1. informal: directly, openly, and without qualification or hesitation
2. caught unprepared and unable to react quickly
3. having flattened arches or standing with the full soles on the ground

## Examples
- Jim came right out flat-footed and said what he intended to do.
- The sudden question left the witness flat-footed.
- The doctor examined his flat-footed stance before recommending new shoes.

## Synonyms
- direct
- unprepared
- off guard
- flat-arched

## Antonyms
- prepared
- nimble
- evasive

## Derived Forms
- flat-footedly
- flat-footedness

## Related Forms
- flat foot
- flatfoot

## Etymology
From flat foot plus -ed. The literal anatomical and stance senses produced several figurative uses: standing squarely became speaking directly, while being unable to shift one's feet quickly became being caught unprepared.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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