footsie

[ foot-see ]

/ ˈfʊt si /

Save This Word!

noun Informal.

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

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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. 2023

How to use footsie in a sentence

Now, Bolduc’s main opponent, state Senate President Chuck Morse, has also been dancing around the issue, but it looks like Bolduc’s game of footsie with election denialism will win the day.
The Last Chance For Election Deniers To Win Primaries|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 13, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
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