fox trot
noun
a social dance, in quadruple meter, performed by couples, characterized by various combinations of slow and quick steps.
fox trot
1 Americannoun
-
a social dance, in quadruple meter, performed by couples, characterized by various combinations of slow and quick steps.
-
a pace, as of a horse, consisting of a series of short steps, as in slackening from a trot to a walk.
fox-trot
2
American
[foks-trot]
/ ˈfɒksˌtrɒt /
verb (used without object)
fox-trotted,
fox-trotting
Etymology
Origin of fox trot1
An Americanism dating back to 1870–75
Origin of fox-trot2
First recorded in 1915–20
Vocabulary lists containing fox-trot
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“You floated across that floor like butter on a crumpet,” he told British singer Frankie Bridge of her finely rendered fox trot on “Strictly Come Dancing.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 24, 2023
I was kicked out of Social Dance, a genteel weekly event where the white kids in my town dressed up in modest suits and floor-length dresses and learned the fox trot and the waltz.
From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2021
Carrie Ann acknowledges the fox trot is a tough dance, especially for the first night, but says it’s clear that Monica put in a ton of effort.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 15, 2020
Taking on twisting, scenic routes in a nimble sports car with a manual transmission can feel like a masterful fox trot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2018
My heart gave a leap and then began to fox trot.
From The Black Eagle Mystery by Geraldine Bonner
How many dancers compete in the fox-trot or tango competitions?
From Textbooks ● Dec. 1, 2021
He seemed “like a fox-trot man caught in a rock-and-roll culture,” New York Times reporter R.W.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 28, 2019
In the end, Mr. Pomfret concludes, the two nations “will successfully fox-trot, albeit clumsily” and the relationship will lurch ahead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2016
It is a rare luxury to be able to turn to the scorers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and watch them fox-trot past defenders and bury 28-foot jumpers.
From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2016
So, long story short, Chuck Parson kept me from ever dancing the fox-trot, which doesn’t seem like a particularly horrible thing to do to a sixth-grader.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
While they fox-trotted at a benefit ball, the U.S.
From Time Magazine Archive
He signaled the scarlet-coated Marine Band to strike up Hello, Dolly!, fox-trotted with more than a dozen partners.
From Time Magazine Archive
After that the 60 youthful guests fox-trotted sedately about the huge East Room, occasionally frisked a bit more gayly to rumbas and congas.
From Time Magazine Archive
People who fox-trotted to Tommy Dorsey now outnumber those who hip-hop to Cyndi Lauper; for the first time in history, there are more Americans over 65 than there are teenagers.
From Time Magazine Archive
We fox-trotted all the way around the seal tank, and still the song kept going on about the stars falling.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
Egurrola shared video and photos of the intruder fox-trotting away on Facebook.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2023
It fares no better on the merits, fox-trotting around an insurmountable Supreme Court precedent strictly limiting recusal that dooms the whole endeavor.
From Slate ● Sep. 13, 2023
The hero rescues her, but she returns to fox-trotting.
From Time Magazine Archive
J.F.K. was dancing when the orchestra began a twist, but kept on sedately fox-trotting.
From Time Magazine Archive
Afterwards they went off in little groups by themselves, and looked on pityingly at their young folks’ degeneracy into fox-trotting.
From God's Green Country A Novel of Canadian Rural Life by Ethel M. Chapman
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