on the front foot

prepositional phrase

Having the weight on the front foot in order to play an attacking stroke

Opposite
on the back foot
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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. ball gamesHaving the weight on the front foot in order to play an attacking stroke
  2. idiomaticIn a dominant position.

    Chelsea saw out the half firmly on the front foot and had three further chances to take the lead.

    2011 January 15, Sam Sheringham, “Chelsea 4 - 3 Blackburn Rovers”, in BBC
    1 more example

    The leader is mindful of being on the front foot, as if leading the dance, rather than on the back foot being led.

    2015, Christopher Johns, Mindful Leadership: A Guide for the Health Care Professions

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
on the back foot
Also see
front-footed
Cite this entry
APA

on the front foot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20front%20foot

MLA

“on the front foot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20front%20foot. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the front foot,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20front%20foot.

Source: on the front foot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.