flat-footed

comparative more flat-footed · superlative most flat-footed

1. Of an animal: having feet which are naturally flat; (specifically) of a horse: having hoofs with soles close to the ground.

   Bears are flat-footed animals.

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   [T]here have ben novv of late, Serpents knovvn flat-footed like Geeſe.

   1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XI.] Of Birds Feet, and Their Clawes or Tallons.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 351

   Pelicans are large flat-footed Fovvls, almoſt as big as Geeſe, and their Feathers in colour like them: […]

   1699, William Dampier, chapter II, in Voyages and Descriptions. Vol. II. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, part II (Mr. Dampier’s Voyages to the Bay of Campeachy), page 70

   He claimed that Jews walk flatfooted like a camel—including me.

   1980, Peter Hellman, “Tree Number E-37: Sietske Postma and Family”, in Avenue of the Righteous, New York, N.Y.: Atheneum, →ISBN, page 82

2. Of a person: having the physical condition of flat feet (“a condition where the soles of the feet are in full contact with the ground, either because the arches have collapsed or because they never developed”).

   Most small children are flatfooted.

   2011, Peg Tittle, Critical Thinking: An Appeal to Reason, →ISBN

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   [T]he 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, “New Sufferings”, in Cecil Parrott, transl., The Good Soldier Švejk and His Fortunes in the World War […], London: Penguin Books in association with William Heinemann, →ISBN, part II (At the Front), page 385

   The figure came up and squatted flatfooted on his haunches next to Patsy. In the dim glow of starlight and streetlight he saw a wrinkled face and a silvery goatee.

   1986, F[rancis] Paul Wilson, “Dat Tay Vao”, in The Touch (The Adversary Cycle; III), New York, N.Y.: Putnam, →ISBN; republished in Shane Jiraiya Cummings, editor, Rage against the Night, Woodvale, W.A.: Brimstone Press, March 2012, →ISBN, section 1, page 199

   Hit take-off board flatfooted in a hard stamp; take-off feet under body with slight dip at knee.

   1988, Carmen Tabije Andin, Teaching Physical Education in Philippine Schools, →ISBN, page 147

3. broadlyOf a thing (especially (rail transport) a rail): having a flat base; flat-bottomed.

   These rails, […] were of the "fish-bellied" pattern, but in practice, and as the demand increased, these were found troublesome to roll, and this difficulty led to the introduction of the flat-bottomed or "flat-footed" section of rail, combining a solid head with a flanged base.

   1889, George Findlay, “Permanent Way”, in The Working and Management of an English Railway. […], 2nd edition, London: Whittaker & Co, […]; George Bell & Sons, […], →OCLC, page 42

4. figurativelyBlunt and unsubtle; lacking finesse; clumsy.

   This flatfooted sketch of how experience provides us with reasons has two nodes.

   2010, Scott Aikin, Epistemology and the Regress Problem, →ISBN

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   The thing made a big stir in the town, too, and a good many come out flat-footed and said it was scandalous to separate the mother and the children that way.

   1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XXVII, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, page 276

   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.

   2006, William Terdoslavich, “Weapons: The Right Tools for the Right Plot”, in The Jack Ryan Agenda: Policy and Politics in the Novels of Tom Clancy: An Unauthorized Analysis, New York, N.Y.: Forge, →ISBN

   I have many top ranked sectional and national level kids come to my program and I cannot even believe how flatfooted they are—not because they lack the talent—simply because no coach ever demanded the extra footwork effort from them.

   2010, Chris Lewit, Tennis Technique Bible: The Essential Reference for Mastering World-class Strokes and Footwork, volume 1, [Manchester, Vt.]: Chris Lewit Tennis, →ISBN, page 20

   It's contrived and flatfooted, and neither Loy nor Powell enjoyed making it, despite its bang-up finale: a free-for-all wedding featuring two brides (Margit and Irene), two grooms, a confused preacher, quite a few drunks from the bar next door, and a maximum of conmmotion—all crammed into Charlie's tiny trailer in a Capra-esque crowd scene.

   2011, Emily W. Leider, Myrna Loy: The Only Good Girl in Hollywood, →ISBN

   I can't experience your experiences. What special relation to two experiences in my head have that an experience in my head lacks with respect to an experience in yours? One flat-footed answer is that they are both mine.

   2012, Jesse J. Prinz, “Whence the Unity of Consciousness? Attentional Resonance”, in The Conscious Brain: How Attention Engenders Experience (Philosophy of Mind), Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, part 3 (Metaphysical Puzzles of Consciousness), page 250

   Synonyms: maladroit

5. USfigurativelyUnprepared, unready.

   They were caught flat-footed when Clancy filed to enter the race.

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   To those who are younger, perhaps still building a career, I say to you, plan for it! No one should be caught flatfooted by the lengthening of middle age.

   2007, David D. Corbett, with Richard Higgins, “Trailblazing”, in Portfolio Life: The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Passion After 50, San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 12

   Caught mentally flatfooted, Anne couldn't think of a response. She was guilty as charged. She didn't deserve to defend herself.

   2009, Tami Hoag, Deeper than the Dead, London: Orion Books, Orion Publishing Group, published 2010, →ISBN, page 244

   In contrast, as the crisis unfolded, India stood flatfooted, only reacting after the damage was done.

   2014, Luke Patey, The New Kings of Crude, →ISBN

   Eleven minutes later, United doubled their lead as City defender Rico Lewis was caught flat-footed, allowing Dorgu to nip in front of him and turn home Matheus Cunha's cut-back.

   2026 January 17, Simon Stone, Shamoon Hafez, “Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City”, in BBC

6. datedfigurativelyinformalDirect, downright, straightforward; also, holding firmly to and maintaining a decision; standing one's ground.

   All these remarks are in strict confidence, and I write in this way to urge you [Charles Follen McKim] to be explicit and flat-footed in your wishes.

   1892 June 6 (date written), Charles Moore, quoting Francis D[avid] Millet, “The Chicago World’s Fair Marks the Beginnings of Civic Art in America”, in The Life and Times of Charles Follen McKim, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], published 1929, →OCLC, page 120

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   Now, you need'nt talk 'bout your shoes, kase you see I'm barefooted, I haint got no shoes, tis true, but I stand flat-footed and damn the man who can move me one inch—do you hear that Wolfe!

   1834 January, [James Strange French], “Buck Horn Tavern, a Scene in the West”, in The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, volume III, number 1, New York, N.Y.: Clark and Edson, →OCLC, page 35

   Proficient drinkers could spill out an ounce, or an ounce and a half, or two, from the neck of a Solo Soda bottle in the dark, measured to the very dram, refill it with corn whisky, turn it upside down with the thumb placed carefully over the bottle's lip—for a good mix, and luck—and drink it down, flatfooted.

   1952, William T. Campbell, Big Beverage, Atlanta, Ga.: Tupper & Love, →OCLC, page 269

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of flat-foot.