wrong-footv.
/ˌrɒŋˈfʊt/, U.S. /ˌrɔŋˈfʊt/, /ˌrɑŋˈfʊt/ 1. transitive. In tennis, football, etc.: (by deceptive play) to cause (an opponent) to have his balance on the wrong foot.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of play, actions, or postures > [verb (transitive)] > other actions or types of play
outshoot1545
football1599
pitch1717
make1819
to warm up1868
to draw out1893
bench1898
foot1900
cover1907
cannonball1911
telegraph1913
unsight1923
snap1951
to sit out1955
pike1956
to sit down1956
wrong-foot1960
blindside1968
sit1977
1928 [see wrong-footing n. and adj. at Derivatives].
1959 Times 7 Sept. 15/5 Viney and Hasty caught the defence wrong-footed.
1960 E. S. Higham & W. J. Higham High Speed Rugby xi. 136 You could pick up the ball as though to go one side, and then, having picked up the ball, swing to the other side... It will wrong-foot the attackers, thereby giving you more time for your kick.
1960 Times 29 Nov. 17/4 Truman found himself being wrong-footed by masked drop-shots [in squash rackets].
1967 J. Potter Foul Play (1968) ii. 28 The younger Fitch was holding forth about his patent method of wrong-footing full backs.
1976 E. R. Dexter & C. Makins Testkill 21 Abbott, playing back instinctively, was wrong-footed, bat adrift in his hands.
2. transitive. figurative. To disconcert by an unexpected move; to catch unprepared.
ΘΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > surprise, astonish [verb (transitive)] > take by surprise
oppressa1382
susprisea1400
swikec1400
supprisec1405
catchc1425
to take (a person) at advantage(s)1523
to take (also rarely catch, find) a person tardy1530
to take tarde1547
to take (a person) short1553
to catch (also take) (a person) nappinga1576
preoccupate1582
surprise?1592
overcomea1616
to take (or catch)‥unawaresa1616
to take at a surprise1691
to catch (also take) on the hop1868
to catch (a person) bending1910
wrong-foot1957
1957 F. Hoyle Black Cloud iv. 79 ‘Let me tell you..that the Government has made enquiries and we are not at all satisfied with the accuracy of your report.’ Kingsley was wrong-footed.
1963 ‘W. Haggard’ High Wire xii. 130 The tall man's technique was precisely calculated to put him at a disadvantage... Somehow they could always wrong-foot you.
1971 A. Hunter Gently at Gallop xii. 128 They sensed he was close, and they were trying to wrong-foot him.
1983 Listener 6 Jan. 5/1 What happens in Washington, Moscow and Geneva will leave British political leaders moving quickly in order not to be wrong-footed.
1984 Daily Tel. 5 July 1/2 A walk-out would wrong-foot the union in its endeavour to appear ready for negotiations at all times.
Derivatives
wrong-footing n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > [adjective] > able to disconcert
wrong-footing1928
society > leisure > sport > types of play, actions, or postures > [noun] > actions
exchange1604
measuring cast1647
winner1811
glovework1822
piledriver1858
cockshot1861
legwork1868
footwork1871
winning stroke1884
teamwork1885
benching1904
three-sixty1927
wrong-footing1928
power play1932
major1951
sharpshooting1976
society > leisure > sport > types of play, actions, or postures > [adjective] > other actions or types of play
short1545
standing1728
unpenetrative1795
loose1802
scratched1869
cannonball1872
scratchy1881
punishable1910
wrong-footing1928
open1934
overhead1938
power1959
run-and-gun1960
tight1961
1928 Daily Tel. 7 Aug. 12/3 His ground strokes had not the same speed and polish as Austin's, nor could he steer all his volleys into the same wrong-footing area.
1971 R. Laver & B. Collins Educ. Tennis Player xvi. 216 Wrong-footing is hitting to the place your opponent has just vacated.
1980 Sunday Times 17 Apr. 42/5 They emerge as wry, reflective, deliberately wrong-footing to outsiders.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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