| Get your foot in the door, but don't shoot | | | | goal; take the initial step to do something bigger |
| yourself in the foot afterwards! Idioms, or | | | | - origin: Traveling salesmen used to go door- to |
| expressions that don't mean literally what the | | | | door to sell their goods. They would put their foot |
| words say, are part of everyday speech in | | | | in the door so the owner couldn't shut it and |
| America. To avoid misunderstandings, it is | | | | would have to listen to their sales pitch and, |
| important to improve your spoken English by | | | | hopefully, buy something. |
| mastering as many idioms as possible. Today's | | | | - Shoe is on the other foot - the situation is |
| expressions all use the word foot, and each idiom | | | | reversed, so the person understands a different |
| is highlighted in the story. Try and figure out as | | | | perspective |
| many of the expressions as you can as you read | | | | - origin: Years ago, shoes used to be made |
| the story about a man named Steve getting | | | | exactly the same for each foot, but later they |
| advice from a friend about an upcoming interview. | | | | were made specifically for each foot. Then, it was |
| Steve has wanted to work for the Global | | | | uncomfortable to wear one shoe on the other |
| Electronics company for years. He would love to | | | | foot. So, if you wore your shoe on the other |
| design and build widgets, but has no experience in | | | | foot, you would notice how different it felt. |
| the field. Until now, he couldn't figure out how to | | | | - Put your best foot forward - make a great first |
| get his foot in the door, but now he has the | | | | impression; begin with enthusiasm |
| perfect contact. | | | | - Get off on the wrong foot - start poorly, make |
| John has been working there for the past 3 years | | | | a bad impression, start a relationship with a |
| in HR, and offered to schedule an interview for | | | | mistake |
| Steve for a new position. John sympathizes with | | | | - Shoot himself in the foot - accidentally do |
| Steve, as he remembers well how he felt before | | | | something to harm your career or advancement |
| he was hired. Now the shoe is on the other foot | | | | - origin: literally, accidentally shooting oneself in the |
| and he has a chance to help out a friend. | | | | foot, causing temporary or permanent damage |
| "You need to put your best foot forward," John | | | | - Put your foot in your mouth- say something |
| told Steve. "There are a lot of people interviewing | | | | foolish or embarrassing |
| for this position, and the competition is tough. If | | | | - origin: thought to come from foot and mouth |
| you get off on the wrong foot with the boss, | | | | disease, which causes embarrassing red spots and |
| you probably won't have a chance at the job. | | | | sores all over the mouth |
| The last guy we interviewed shot himself in the | | | | - One foot in the grave - near death |
| foot, bragging about how he had cheated his | | | | - Set foot in - enter |
| previous employer and no one found out. I think | | | | - Foot the bill - pay whatever money is due |
| you'll do fine, though. You are very motivated and | | | | - origin: Footing used to mean adding up figures in |
| articulate; I don't think you'll put your foot in your | | | | a list and placing a total at the foot of the column. |
| mouth. | | | | Years ago, it was common practice to ask a |
| If you do well in the first interview, the senior | | | | customer to foot the bill (check the arithmetic) as |
| vice president will want to take you out for lunch | | | | a polite way of saying 'pay the bill'. Over time, it |
| to get to know you better. He looks like he has | | | | became an accepted expression simply meaning |
| one foot in the grave, but he still holds most of | | | | to pay the bill. |
| the decision-making power. Just relax and enjoy | | | | - Get your feet wet- try something new; get |
| yourself; he won't set foot in the company | | | | some experience working |
| cafeteria, so he will take you to a nice restaurant | | | | - origin: Someone who is afraid to swim will start |
| and the company will foot the bill. I know you're | | | | by getting their feet wet, taking a step towards |
| nervous because you haven't done this type of | | | | the new experience of getting all the way in the |
| work before, but once you get your feet wet, | | | | water and swimming |
| you'll do great." | | | | Did you get most of them right? Then you got |
| How did you do? Check yourself below with the | | | | off on the right foot to improve your spoken |
| list of definitions for each idiom. | | | | English and will soon have the world at your feet ( |
| - Get his foot in the door - get started toward a | | | | be very successful)! |