wrong foot
Awkward initial impression
To catch someone on the wrong foot is to surprise them at an awkward moment, when they're unprepared or off balance: The question caught me on the wrong foot.
The image comes from sports—a player moving one direction when they should be moving the other.
To wrong-foot someone is to create such a disadvantage deliberately: The prosecutor wrong-footed the witness with an unexpected document.
- misstepError in action or judgment
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- blindsidedSurprised by unforeseen impact
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- slip-upSmall unintended error
stumble · gaffe · caught off guard · put on the spot · error · two left feet · taken aback · outmaneuvered · feint · fake out · bait-and-switch · sucker punch · rattled · juke · trap · unbalanced · counterplay · flustered
wrong footright foot
sure footing · front foot · firm footing · lead foot · solid ground
wrong, foot, wrongly, wrongful, wrongfully, wrongness, wronged, wronging, wrongs