on the front foot

English

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

on the front foot

1. (cricket, of a batsman) Having the weight on the front foot in order to play an attacking stroke
2. (idiomatic) In a dominant position.
   • 2011 January 15, Sam Sheringham, “Chelsea 4 - 3 Blackburn Rovers”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     Chelsea saw out the half firmly on the front foot and had three further chances to take the lead.

   • 2015, Christopher Johns, Mindful Leadership: A Guide for the Health Care Professions:

     The leader is mindful of being on the front foot, as if leading the dance, rather than on the back foot being led.

Antonyms

• on the back foot