flatfooted

Examples

• All

• The manager gave a flatfooted answer about the company's financial troubles, leaving no room for doubt.

• In his speech, he made a flatfooted commitment to improve the community without any vague statements.

• Well, listen, you crummy, flatfooted copper... ...I'll show you whether I lost my nerve.

  Little Caesar (1931)

• Smitty: I always knew there was plenty of copper in you, you big, flatfooted stool pigeon.

  Another Thin Man (1939)

Synonyms

D

direct

vsflatfooted

194 3.5

Honest and clear in speech or action

is thicker in bluntness and leaves less room for doubt

S

straight

vsflatfooted

142 1.6

In an honest and direct way

is sharper and more uncompromising in its bluntness

S

square

vsflatfooted

85 3.5

Honest, direct, and fair in actions or statements

is more about blunt firmness and explicit refusal than fairness

P

plain

vsflatfooted

45 2.0

Said in a simple, direct way without hiding the truth

is firmer and more explicit when refusing or declaring views

S

straightforward

vsflatfooted

43 3.6

Someone who is honest and direct, not hiding anything

is firmer and more abrupt rather than merely plain and honest

F

forthright

vsflatfooted

30 5.5

Being direct and honest when talking or acting

is more blunt and explicit, especially when refusing or judging

S

straight-out

vsflatfooted

29 6.1

Completely direct with no doubt or excuse

is similar but focuses more on blunt refusal or opinion

P

point-blank

vsflatfooted

10 5.6

Direct and blunt without trying to hide the truth

is comparable but stresses firm explicitness over bluntness alone

U

unvarnished

vsflatfooted

9 7.0

Saying something directly and honestly without hiding the truth

is more forceful and likely to refuse or state opinions

S

straight-shooting

vsflatfooted

• Informal

1 6.3

Someone who speaks clearly and honestly without hiding things

is slightly harsher and more forceful in tone

F

flat-footed

vsflatfooted

1 7.1

Saying something in a direct, firm way

is the same meaning but written without a hyphen

S

straight-from-the-shoulder

vsflatfooted

• Informal

7.7

Direct and honest in speech that does not hide what you think

is even more blunt and explicit when stating refusal or view

Antonyms

A

ambiguous

67 6.3

Not clear because it can have more than one meaning

E

evasive

18 7.3

Not giving a direct answer to hide the truth or avoid commitment

How Direct

blunt

100 3.8

direct

194 3.5

flatfooted

1 7.5

straightforward

94 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology