quick on one's feet
4
5.2
- idiom
:
rápido de reflejos
- To be good at wedding photography, you need to be creative, have excellent technical photography skills, be quick on your feet, and have an appreciation for human nature.
- very quick on one's feet
- pretty quick on one's feet
Examples
-
He's quick on his feet and pretty relatable to people," Priebus said, adding that no one is as knowledgeable as Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan on budget, fiscal policy, and the U.S. debt.
Blog text (4) -
Charles was quicker on his feet now and more experienced with people.
Fiction book (1993) -
Rich was quick on his feet, always first to the microphone, waiting to ask his question.
Blog text (27) -
Chess teaches focus, creative thinking, and how to be quick on your feet.
-
Carlbom had political experience and was quick on his feet.
Blog text (17) -
In a challenging debate, she was quick on her feet, countering every argument presented.
-
During the surprise quiz, he was quick on his feet, quickly thinking of answers to all the questions.
-
Good improvisation skills mean being quick on your feet when unexpected questions arise.
Synonyms
61
3.2
Able to understand and answer fast
13
6.3
To notice things quickly and act to fix them
5
7.0
Very quick to understand things and find answers
5
6.7
Able to understand new things very quickly
4
4.8
Able to think and give smart fast answers
2
5.6
Able to respond quickly under pressure
1
5.4
Fast to act or respond at the start of a situation
1
6.3
To stay alert and ready for anything that might happen
1
6.7
Able to understand new ideas very quickly
To stay alert and think quickly in difficult or unexpected situations
You are ready and alert to act quickly
How Quick
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'quick' with the locative 'on one's feet', which literally evokes physical agility; knowing the words would likely lead a learner to interpret a sense of bodily swiftness. However, the common idiomatic extension to mental/ verbal responsiveness is a metaphorical shift that is not fully predictable from the parts, so learners may need exposure to arrive at the intended meaning despite cross-linguistic parallels.
Etymology
The idiom quick on one's feet may come from watching dancers or players who move their feet fast to keep their balance or keep up in a game. That's why the phrase now means 'able to think and respond quickly'.