footwork

American  

[foot-wurk] / ˈfʊtˌwɜrk /

noun

1. the use of the feet, as in tennis, boxing, or dancing.

2. travel by foot from one place to another, as in gathering facts or fulfilling an assignment; legwork.

   The project entailed a great deal of footwork.

3. the act or process of maneuvering, especially in a skillful manner.

   It took a bit of fancy footwork to avoid the issue.

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footwork British  

/ ˈfʊtˌwɜːk /

noun

1. skilful use of the feet, as in sports, dancing, etc

2. informal clever manoeuvring

   deft political footwork

3. informal preliminary groundwork

   many estate agents now do the footwork – you only need to visit

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Etymology

Origin of footwork

First recorded in 1560–70; foot + work

Example Sentences

Onto the rest: “Maid of Honour” calls back to his failed-but-intriguing experiment in deep house, 2022’s “Honestly, Nevermind,” but subs out that LP’s raver fog for squelchy Miami bass, footwork and ghettotech.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Williamson may be done dancing, but the music’s still playing, and the fancy footwork of politics continues.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Arguably most prominent was her role as the central of five ballerinas in “Divertimento No. 15,” Balanchine’s Mozart-inspired confection from 1956, where she displayed gyroscopic turns and air-filled, feathery footwork.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Working out the puzzle of Flores was key to Scotney's victory but trainer Shane McGuigan gave her the tools to succeed between rounds - urging her to use the jab and rely on footwork.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

"Study your footwork well, then, Hobbyhorse, for I mean to hobble you."

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Related Words

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