underfoot

Etymology

under- +‎ foot

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ʌndɚˈfʊt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ʌndəˈfʊt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

underfoot (not comparable)

1. Situated under one's foot or feet.

Adverb

underfoot (not comparable)

1. Under one's foot or feet.

   The workers were all big, burly, hard-hearted men, tromping through the marsh in their heavy boots without sparing so much as a single thought for the masses of tiny frogs they crushed underfoot.

2. In the way; situated so as to obstruct or hinder.

   It would be easier to do a big project like that someday when we don't have a bunch of newcomers underfoot.

   • Tom Reamy, Blind Voices

     If you're not going to help, at least get out from underfoot.