flat footed Idiom

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caught flatfooted

not ready to respond, mind in neutral Esposito was caught flatfooted by Lemaire's slapshot - an easy goal!

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flatfooted

(See caught flatfooted)

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flat-footed|flat|flat feet|flat foot|flatfoot|foot

adj., informal 1. Straightforward; forthright; direct; outright. The governor issued a flat-footed denial of the accusation. He came out flat-footed against the idea. 2. Not ready; not prepared; usually used with "catch". The teacher's question caught Tim flat-footed. Unexpected company at lunch time caught Mrs. Green flat-footed.

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heavy-footed|foot|footed|heavy

adj. 1. Slow and clumsy in walking or movement; awkward in using your feet. The fat man tried to dance, but he was too heavy-footed. Martha is not fat, but she is heavy-footed and walks noisily. 2. Awkward in choice and order of words; not smooth and graceful; clumsy. In Mary's compositions, the words seem to dance, but John's compositions are always heavy-footed. 3. or lead-footed informal Likely to drive an automobile fast. Jerry is a bad driver because he is too heavy-footed.
Compare: STEP ON IT.

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caught flat-footed

caught flat-footed
Caught unprepared, taken by surprise, as in The reporter's question caught the President flat-footed. This usage comes from one or another sport in which a player should be on his or her toes, ready to act. [c. 1900]

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flat-footed

flat-footed
see caught flat-footed.

flat-footed

1. Slow to react. Unprepared. Often acclimated in the byword "caught collapsed footed." That ambition was my fault, guys. I got bent flat-footed on the play.2. Clumsy and awkward. Don't assurance her accustomed that vase—she's so flat-footed. I would change your aperture argument—it's a little flat-footed appropriate now.

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