underfoot

American  

[uhn-der-foot] / ˌʌn dərˈfʊt /

adverb

1. under the foot or feet; on the ground; underneath or below.

   The climb was difficult because there were so many rocks underfoot.

2. so as to form an obstruction, as in walking; in the way.

   the ends of her sash falling constantly underfoot.

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adjective

1. lying under the foot or feet; in a position to be trodden upon.

underfoot British  

/ ˌʌndəˈfʊt /

adverb

1. underneath the feet; on the ground

2. in a position of subjugation or subservience

3. in the way

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Etymology

Origin of underfoot

1150–1200; Middle English underfot (adv.). See under-, foot

Example Sentences

An opportunity that looked like it had been trampled underfoot when the dismal visitors in Piraeus fell three goals down, was reborn thanks to Belarus, the unlikeliest of unlikely heroes of the night.

From BBC

Like walking through a sparse forest in early autumn, the air sharp with smoke from a campfire, leaves underfoot brittle enough to crack.

From Salon

Meanwhile, the sniffer dogs at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia were wearing Crocs due to the temperature of the concrete underfoot.

From BBC

"The hills look burnt," he said, adding that peatland, usually wet and boggy, "is now crunchy" underfoot.

From BBC

They took a toll, onerously so, like an undertow at the ocean shoreline that yanks you down into the muddy sand underfoot, and my debt more than quadrupled.

From Salon