on one's feet

prepositional phrase

While standing up or walking, running, etc.

“He's very quick on his feet.”

Similar
on one's legsupon one's legs
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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. While standing up or walking, running, etc.

    He's very quick on his feet.

    1 more example

    She's so light on her feet that we couldn't hear her coming.

  2. idiomaticAble to stand; hence, healthy, well, especially after some previous illness.

    He’s so exhausted he can’t stay on his feet.

    1 more example

    Welcome back! It's good to see you back on your feet.

  3. idiomaticIn a satisfactory (nonphysical) condition; happy financially, emotionally, etc.

    It took some time for the lady to get back on her feet after the death of her husband.

    2 more examples

    The organization provides training and assistance to help the unemployed get back on their feet.

    Knock me down, it's all in vain I get right back on my feet again

    1980, Eddie Schwartz, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”, in Crimes of Passion, performed by Pat Benatar

    Synonyms: on one's legs, upon one's legs

  4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, feet.

Synonyms & antonyms

prepositional phraseIn a satisfactory (nonphysical) condition; happy financially, emotionally, etc.

Similar
on one's legsupon one's legs
Also see
afloaton one's legs

Translations

Catalan dempeus
  • dempeusstanding up
Chinese Mandarin 身手, 腳步 /脚步
  • 身手 (shēnshǒu)standing up
  • 腳步 /脚步 (jiǎobù)standing up
  • 恢復健康 /恢复健康 (huīfù jiànkāng)healthy
  • 站起來 /站起来 (zhàn qǐlai)in satisfactory condition
  • 振作起來 /振作起来 (zhènzuò qǐlái)in satisfactory condition
Finnish jalkeilla, jalkeilla
  • jalkeillastanding up
  • jalkeillahealthy
  • jaloillaanin satisfactory condition
Italian rimettere in sesto
  • rimettere in sestoin satisfactory condition
Polish na nogach, na nogach
  • na nogachstanding up
  • na nogachhealthy
  • na nogachin satisfactory condition
Russian на нога́х, на́ ноги
  • на нога́хstanding up
  • на́ ногиstanding up
  • на нога́хhealthy
  • на́ ногиhealthy
  • на нога́хin satisfactory condition
  • на́ ногиin satisfactory condition
Cite this entry
APA

on one's feet. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20feet

MLA

“on one's feet.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20feet. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on one's feet,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20feet.

Source: on one's feet on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.