back foot
Reactive, not proactive
Back foot refers to the rear foot in a stance—the one bearing weight behind.
In cricket, playing on the back foot means shifting weight backward to handle short-pitched bowling.
The phrase extends figuratively to mean a defensive or disadvantaged position: The scandal put the administration on the back foot.
To be on the back foot is to be reacting rather than initiating.
Protective or easily threatened
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- corneredUnable to flee
- disadvantageUnfavorable circumstance or condition
yielding · backpedal · guarded · reactive · scrambling · off-balance · wrong-footed · outmaneuvered
Swinging at pitches
- creaseLine from folding
- footworkSkilled lower-limb movement
- stumpsCut tree bases
- bowlerPin-toppling player
delivery · defense · drive · wicket · innings · pace · swing · spin
Post-illness healing phase
- healingRestoration of health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- recuperationGradual return to health
- comebackRecovery after decline
resilience · rebuilding · regrouping · rallying · restoring · steadying · turning around · stabilizing
defensive
Protective or easily threatened
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- corneredUnable to flee
disadvantage · yielding · backpedal · guarded · reactive · scrambling · off-balance · wrong-footed · outmaneuvered · rattled
batting
Swinging at pitches
bowler · delivery · defense · drive · wicket · innings · pace · swing · spin · short ball
convalescence
Post-illness healing phase
- healingRestoration of health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- recuperationGradual return to health
comeback · resilience · rebuilding · regrouping · rallying · restoring · steadying · turning around · stabilizing · second wind
- battingbatting, batter, batsman, bat speed, batting average
- batting stylesorthodox, unorthodox, defensive, aggressive, switch hitting
back footfront foot
Anterior limb extremity
on the front foot · on the offensive · in the driver's seat · in control · ascendant
back footfront foot
Anterior limb extremity
position of strength · upper hand · driver's seat · dominant position · ascendancy