flat-footed
See also: flatfooted
English
Adjective
- Having feet which are flat.
- Bears are flat-footed animals.
- (of humans) Having the specific physical condition of flat feet.
- 1973, Jaroslav Hašek, The Good Soldier Švejk, translated by Cecil Parrott, London: Heinemann, Part II, Chapter 4, p. 385,
- […] the volunteer from the 9th company was shot because he wouldn't advance and made the excuse that he had swollen legs and was flat-footed.
- 1973, Jaroslav Hašek, The Good Soldier Švejk, translated by Cecil Parrott, London: Heinemann, Part II, Chapter 4, p. 385,
- Holding firmly and maintaining a decision; standing one's ground.
- 1892 Frank Millet: "I write in this way to urge you to be explicit and flat-footed in your wishes." Quoted in: 2003 Erik Larson, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, →ISBN, page 177.
- Blunt and unsubtle; lacking finesse.
- 2006, William Terdoslavich, The Jack Ryan Agenda, →ISBN:
- Two Saudi battalions and a Qatari armored battalion were tasked with retaking the town, which they did in a slow and flat-footed fashion, supported by ample U.S. artillery and air power.
- 2012, Jesse J. Prinz, The Conscious Brain: How Attention Engenders Experience, →ISBN:
- One flat-footed answer is that they are both mine.
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Translations
having flat feet
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having physical condition "flat feet"
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holding firmly to a decision
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Adverb
flat-footed (comparative more flat-footed, superlative most flat-footed)
- (informal) Unprepared to act.
- They caught us flat-footed.
Translations
unprepared to act
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