footsie

[ foot-see ]

/ ˈfʊt si /

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noun Informal.

Sometimes footsies. the act of flirting or sharing a surreptitious intimacy.

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Idioms about footsie

play footsie / footsies with, Informal.

to flirt with, especially by clandestinely touching someone's foot or leg; be slyly or furtively intimate with.
to seek advantage from, especially by discreet or stealthy means; curry favor with.

Also foot·sy, footie.

Origin of footsie

First recorded in 1930–35; foot + -sie, spelling variant of -sy

Words nearby footsie

foot rot, foot rule, foots, foot score, footscraper, footsie, footslog, foot soldier, footsore, footstalk, footstall

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use footsie in a sentence

The first-time candidate comes across as a down-to-earth suburban dad, and he’s forged a coalition of Forever Trumpers and Never Trumpers by avoiding too much substance and playing footsie with the “big lie”.
Here’s who has the edge in the Virginia governor race|The Ranking Committee|October 29, 2021|Washington Post
A sign that the Gulf States and/or Turkey told the White House they were getting out if the footsie continued?
Is Obama Done Playing Footsie With Assad?|Michael Tomasky|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Federal Reserve, which was just caught playing footsie with Goldman Sachs, is as shadowy as it is powerful.
The Sane Case for Auditing the Fed|Nick Gillespie|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A century ago, or more, it was the Democratic Party that was playing footsie with the Ku Klux Klan.
Republicans Are Racists? No, It’s Just All a Big Coincidence|Michael Tomasky|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For now, Lieberman seems most comfortable playing footsie with the Democrats.
11 Politicians to Watch in 2011|Samuel P. Jacobs|January 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST
This weekend, Sarah Palin again played footsie with a 2012 presidential run.
Palin Is the New McGovern|Peter Beinart|September 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He was evidently not going to play footsie with, or show any favoritism whatever toward, any woman aboard the ship.
Masters of Space|Edward Elmer Smith
If you think you can make your bed by playing footsie with an old fud who has only a year to go, try it.
The Trouble with Telstar|John Berryman
D'you think I'd even try to play footsie with Barbara Warner?
Subspace Survivors|E. E. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for footsie (1 of 2)

footsie

/ (ˈfʊtsɪ) /

noun

informal flirtation involving the touching together of feet, knees, etc (esp in the phrase play footsie)

British Dictionary definitions for footsie (2 of 2)

Footsie

/ (ˈfʊtsɪ) /

noun

an informal name for Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012