put one foot in front of the other
Take sequential steps
To put one foot in front of the other is to keep moving forward, especially through difficulty or exhaustion.
The phrase acknowledges that progress sometimes requires focusing only on the next small step rather than the daunting whole: After the diagnosis, she just put one foot in front of the other.
It suggests persistence without heroism—simply continuing when stopping feels easier.
- one step at a timeProceeding in stages
- walkTravel on foot
- paceSpeed of movement
- treadSurface that grips ground
- stepFoot movement forward
stride · fortitude · persevere · movement · resilience · endure · tenacity · trudge · grit · plod · courage · never give up · advance · determination · persist · proceed · progression · moving forward
put one foot in front of the otherstand still
Cease all movement
stay put · freeze · plant one's feet · halt · sit still
put one foot in front of the othergive up
Stop attempting something
throw in the towel · quit · surrender · call it quits · abandon hope
putting, footed, footer, footstep, footprint, fronts, fronted, frontier, frontage