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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Think on your feet

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To think and respond effectively without much preparation time.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. When the projector failed, the presenter had to think on her feet.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To think and respond effectively without much preparation time.
Show the answer

Think on your feet — To think and respond effectively without much preparation time.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Think on your feet” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To think and respond effectively without much preparation time.

Compare: When the projector failed, the presenter had to think on her feet.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it for interviews, questions, presentations or unexpected problems that need a quick response. It suits conversation and workplace discussion.

More examples in context

  • The interviewer’s unexpected question made me think on my feet.
  • Helping at the busy information desk taught him to think on his feet.

Usage note

You do not need to be standing. The emphasis is a quick, useful response; it does not mean speaking carelessly or making up facts.

A short conversation

A: What did you do when the guest speaker arrived late?
B: I had to think on my feet and lead a short discussion while we waited.
A: That kept the group involved.

One more practice question

Which action shows someone thinking on their feet?

A. Reading only a fully prepared answer to a question known weeks in advance.
B. Quickly finding a useful response to an unexpected question.

Check your answer

B. The person responds effectively with little preparation time.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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