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Glite Dictionary
to put one foot in front of the other

to put one foot in front of the other

7 3.6
To keep moving forward step by step despite problems
  • idiom
translation icon : seguir adelante
  • Despite feeling overwhelmed, he decided to put one foot in front of the other and take small steps toward his goals.
  • just put one foot in front of the other
  • keep putting one foot in front of the other
  • put one foot in front of the other, trying

Just put one foot in front of the other.

Examples

  • You have to try to put one foot in front of the other.

    Blog text (24)

  • Sometimes when calamity hits, all we can do is put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

    Blog text (21)

  • Just put one foot in front of the other.

    Out on a Limb (1992)

  • But they will keep getting up and putting one foot in front of the other.

    Blog text (8)

  • I got up and put one foot in front of the other.

    Blog text (10)

  • Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

    Blog text (24)

  • I'll just keep putting one foot in front of the other and see where life takes me next.

    Blog text (11)

  • When I get exhausted, I remind myself to just put one foot in front of the other.

    Blog text (24)

  • We may not look like winners from the outside, but the fact that we are still putting one foot in front of the other is a victory in itself.

    Blog text (11)

  • When facing challenges, she learned to just put one foot in front of the other until she found a solution.

Synonyms

to push forward
vsto put one foot in front of the other
19 3.1

To keep making progress despite problems

advances more slowly in small steps rather than by force
to march forward
vsto put one foot in front of the other
3 3.7

To move forward steadily despite problems

moves in small stepwise increments rather than with strong determination
to make one's way
vsto put one foot in front of the other
3.4

To move forward through a place despite problems

is a steady step by step continuation when facing difficulties
to make head against the current
vsto put one foot in front of the other
  • UK
9.1

To move forward despite strong opposition or many difficulties

advances step by step, focusing on steady continuation not resistance
to keep one's shoulder to the wheel
vsto put one foot in front of the other
  • Informal
7.7

To work hard and continue when things are difficult

progresses steadily in small steps rather than only through hard work
to take each challenge as they come
vsto put one foot in front of the other
  • Informal
5.2

Deal with problems one at a time as they happen

keeps a steady stepwise pace through difficulties not just handling problems

Antonyms

to give up
∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

How Determined

to persevere
22 5.1
to persist
62 3.7
to put one foot in front of the other
7 3.6
to carry on
253 2.7
to continue
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

put one foot in front of the other infinitive
put one foot in front of the other past
put one foot in front of the other past participle
putting one foot in front of the other present participle
puts one foot in front of the other third person singular

Morphology

put + one + foot + in + front + of + the + other

The phrase literally describes the sequential action of placing 'one foot in front of the other', so the sense 'move forward step by step' is directly and compositionally derived from the known constituents. The extended, figurative meaning of persevering or continuing despite difficulty is a straightforward, widely attested metaphorical extension that a B1 learner who knows the words can readily infer.

Etymology

Put one foot in front of the other comes from the simple image of walking: when you feel tired or face hard times, you keep your focus on putting one foot in front of the other and taking one small step at a time. That's why it means 'to keep going' or 'to move forward step by step'.