IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishget off on the right foot
Meaning: To make a good start.
Example: “Bring the neighbors a cake and you'll get off on the right foot.”
Origin: Superstition long held the right foot lucky and the left unlucky; Roman writers warned against entering a house left foot first. The phrase, with its opposite "the wrong foot," is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: con el pie derecho Literally: With the right foot
More English idioms
- have plenty left in the tank To still have energy or resources in reserve.
- willy-nilly Whether one wants it or not; also, in a disorganized way.
- make oneself scarce To leave quickly, or to keep out of the way.
- no holds barred With no rules or restraints.
- jump at the chance To accept an opportunity eagerly and at once.
- a matter of life and death Something of the greatest possible seriousness.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Beloruchka Someone who dodges dirty or hard work — a person whose hands stay conspicuously clean.
- Zapoi A bender running for days, in which a person drops out of ordinary life entirely.
- Saudade A deep, nostalgic yearning for someone or something absent — tinged with the bittersweet…
Keep exploring