on the front foot
The phrase "on the front foot" originates from cricket but is widely used idiomatically to describe a proactive or dominant stance in various contexts.
Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)In a position of advantage or control by being proactive or assertive.
Example
- The company is on the front foot, leading the market with its innovative products.
- She handled the negotiation on the front foot, securing a favorable deal.
C1Sports
(technical)In an offensive or aggressive stance, especially to gain control or advantage.
Example
- The team started the match on the front foot, scoring within the first few minutes.
C1Cricket
(technical)Having the weight on the front foot to play an attacking stroke.
Example
- The batsman was clearly on the front foot, ready to drive the ball to the boundary.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on the front foot":
on the back footfront footon the right footon the ballin frontfront and centerfront upon one's feeton the defensivefront offup frontahead in the countstep forwardon sideforward linein the front rowkeep aheadfront lineout on one's feetmoving forwardahead of the curveon the wrong footon footon the hopon the upfoot iton the hoofin strideon tiptoein steplight on one's feetput one foot in front of the otherfeet firstfeet on the groundmove forwardon one's legsfront benchpush forwardfront runningget ahead of