Today we talk about a part of our body that is usually very busy – our feet ! Feet help us walk , run , dance , and jump . The words feet and foot are also used in everyday speech . For example , the English language has feet idioms that describe different kinds of people . To be under someone's feet means to be troublesome . In other words , you are standing too close to someone and are getting in their way . Speaking of children , if someone says their home will soon have the pitter-patter of tiny feet , it means the family is expecting a baby ! Now , people who are active do not let grass grow under their feet . They are never in once place for very long . People who can think and take action at the same time are said to be able to think on their feet . Some people appear to have it all . They have money , a good education , good looks , a great family and a large circle of friends . You could say they have the world at their feet . This means whatever they want seems to be there for them . People who have both feet firmly on the ground are realistic and practical . They are not dreamy . You might say such a person is well grounded . If you are a bad dancer , you might be accused of having two left feet . To dance well , it is better to have a right foot and a left foot . Besides describing different people , feet expressions can be helpful when talking about jobs and careers . Let me tell you about a man named Sam . He has worked at a government job for years . But now he is looking for a new career . He wants to do something he loves -- something exciting ! Sam loves skiing . He thinks that it would be fun to own a ski resort high in the mountains . But he knows nothing about operating a business . So , he decides to get his feet wet . In other words , he wants to get used to a new situation . He joins an organization for resort owners and attends their conferences . He travels to ski areas all over the United States . This helps Sam get his foot in the door . Having a foot in the door is a starting point , an opportunity . This expression comes from people selling things door-to-door . They would block the door with their foot so people couldn't close the door on them . The more Sam learns about the ski business , the more excited he gets . All this information is a great start . But it isn't enough to make his dream a reality . He finally gets a firm foothold when he finds some mountain top property for sale in West Virginia . He gets a loan from a bank and buys the land ! Getting a foothold is finding a starting point that makes further progress possible . Sam is so excited that he jumps in with both feet . If you start a new job or project with much energy , you can say you jumped in with both feet . Sam works hard with ski slope designers and engineers . At the end of each day , all of them are dead on their feet . They are so tired that they have trouble standing up . So , Sam and his team decide to put their feet up . They rest and take it easy . Finally , Sam faces opening day – the day he has been dreaming about . But the night before his business is to open , Sam gets cold feet . He is so nervous that he wants to call everything off . He's afraid that his resort will be a total failure . To get cold feet means to become afraid about something at the last minute . But then , Sam takes a deep breath and calms down . He gets his feet back under him . He decides that his opening day will be wonderful ! However , there is a problem . The ski lift is broken . This makes Sam really angry . He wants to know what went wrong . So , he holds the mechanic's feet to the fire . This expression means to make someone take responsibility for a mistake . Sam instructs the mechanic to fix the ski lift . But she drags her feet . This means she is slow to fix it . So , Sam fires her and hires another mechanic to fix the ski lift . After it is fixed , Sam is able to land on his feet . To be back on your feet or to land on your feet is to recover from trouble . Soon skiers are happily skiing down the slopes ! It is a great success ! Sam's ski resort has been open for three seasons . And every year it is easier for Sam to find his feet in this new and exciting career . It is easier for him to get used to his new situation . Now , Sam's ski resort is popular with skiers and he has a successful new career . To thank his friends and family who helped him during that difficult first year , he invites them to the resort for a weekend of skiing . And , of course , he footed the bill . This means he paid for everything ! Hopefully this story has given you a firm foothold on using feet and foot expressions .