afoota‧foot /əˈfʊt/ adjective [not before noun] 
There were plans afoot for a second attack.—afoot adverb
WORD ORIGINafoot
Origin:
1200-1300 on footEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A quick look round the research and development facility in Versailles revealed a number of interesting software projects afoot.
- Apparently, moves are afoot to ban smoking in public places.
- From information received, it was thought that some illegal activity was afoot.
- Plans are now afoot for an important exhibition of Canaletto in England.
- There were plans afoot for a second attack.
- But plans are afoot to raise more cash from new programme sales.
- Great plans are afoot to ban smoking in public places, resulting in smokers soon becoming complete outcasts in society.
- However, there are plans afoot to see if tutoring in primary schools has any effect on performance later on.
- Now moves are afoot to mend the situation.
- Plans are also afoot to transform the disused salt mines of Saxony and Thuringia into depositories for toxic waste.
- Tammuz was immediately suspicious because he knew the man never broke his routines unless something out of the ordinary was afoot.
Longman Language Activatorways of saying that something is being planned
if something such as a new product or a change is in the pipeline , it is being planned and prepared and it will be ready soon: · After considerable market research, several new products are now in the pipeline.· There are one or two important changes in the pipeline.
also be at the planning stage British if something such as a product is in the planning stages , it is being planned, but the final details have not yet been decided: · A new museum is currently at the planning stage at Bowness.· The programme is only in the planning stages, and is not likely to be broadcast until next year.
if something new, interesting, strange, or dishonest is afoot , someone is planning it, especially secretly: · From information received, it was thought that some illegal activity was afoot.· A quick look round the research and development facility in Versailles revealed a number of interesting software projects afoot.plans/changes/moves etc are afoot: · Plans are now afoot for an important exhibition of Canaletto in England.· Apparently, moves are afoot to ban smoking in public places.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY There were plans afoot for a second attack.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
being planned or happeningmoves/plans/changes afoot There were plans afoot for a second attack. British English (=there are plans, especially secret ones, to do something)· There are moves afoot to change things.
There were plans afoot for a second attack.—afoot adverb