footingfoot‧ing /ˈfʊtɪŋ/ noun 
He wanted to put their relationship on a permanent footing.a financial/commercial/legal etc footing The firm started the new year on a stronger financial footing.on an equal footing (with somebody/something)/on the same footing (as somebody/something) (=in the same state or condition as other people or things) The new law puts women on an equal legal footing with men. Many of the old polytechnics are now on the same footing as universities.a sound/firm/secure footing They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing. The whole country was on a war footing (=ready to go to war at any time).2[singular] a firm hold with your feet when you are standing on a dangerous surface: Seb struggled to keep his footing on the slippery path.lose/miss your footing (=be unable to keep standing or balancing) The girl lost her footing and fell about 150 feet.3[countable usually plural] the solid base of bricks, stone etc that is under a building to support it and fasten it to the ground SYN foundation
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The swing should be anchored in concrete footings at least 12 inches deep.
- After pouring the footings, trowel the top so it is smooth and level.
- Below the bend the water remained sufficiently shallow close to the bank for Trent to keep his footing.
- If the supplier is on an equal footing with the buyer there will be no implied undertaking.
- Mental disease caused by drunkenness is in criminal law treated as on the same footing with insanity.
- The substantial result is much the same on either footing.
- This has enabled domestic markets to compete on a much more equal footing.
Longman Language Activatorhaving equal rights
people who are equal have the same rights as each other and are treated in the same way as each other; if people get equal treatment, pay etc, they are all treated in the same way or get paid the same money: · Democracy is based on the idea that all members of society are equal.equal rights (=the idea that all types of people in society should have the same rights and should be treated fairly and equally): · Black protestors campaigned for equal rights throughout the 1960s.equal opportunities (=the idea that all types of people in society should have the same chances of employment): · Companies are being urged to do more to promote equal opportunities in the workplace.equal pay: · The Treaty of Rome states that men and women shall receive equal pay for equal work.
when all people have the same rights and opportunities in society and are treated equally: · Greater equality was one of the aims of the post-war government.racial/sexual equality: · the struggle for sexual equality· It will take more than laws to bring about genuine racial equality.
people, countries, or organizations that are on an equal footing in a particular situation are being treated as equal, even though this would not happen in other places or situations: · It's the beginning of the course, so you're all on an equal footing.place/put somebody on an equal footing (=treat them in the same way): · It wasn't until 1928, that divorce laws were reformed to put men and women on an equal footing.
someone who has the same rights, advantages, and position in society as someone else, with the result that they can have equal respect for each other: · Most women these days want marriage to be a partnership of equals.treat people as equals (=show equal respect to all people): · The police have a duty to treat all members of the community as equals.
someone who has the same background or position in society as you - used especially in technical or official contexts: · The jury system gives you the basic right to be judged by your peers.· Everyone wants to be successful in the eyes of their peers.· At about three years old, children begin to take an interest in their peers.
formal the state of being measurably equal, for example by receiving equal wages or having equal numbers of jobs as another group - used especially in political contexts: parity with: · Part-time workers are demanding parity with their full-time colleagues.· Middle class blacks in the US have not yet achieved parity with whites in graduate school entries.
to almost fall from a standing position also trip over British to accidentally hit something with your foot when you are walking or running, so that you fall or nearly fall: · I didn't push him - he tripped.· She'd had quite a lot to drink and kept tripping over.trip over: · Pick up that box -- someone might trip over it.trip on: · Her medical problems began when she tripped on a rug and broke her hip.trip and fall: · One boy tripped and fell into the water.
to accidentally slide on a wet or smooth surface, so that you fall or nearly fall: · Be careful you don't slip - the floor's wet.slip on : · She slipped on the icy sidewalk and grabbed Will's arm to steady herself.slip and fall: · I walked slowly through the mud, trying not to slip and fall.
to nearly fall down when you are walking or running, because you do not put your foot down carefully or because something is in the way: · In her hurry, Eva stumbled and dropped the tray she was carrying.stumble on/over: · Mason headed towards the house, stumbling on the rough ground.
to fall or nearly fall, when you need to balance carefully to remain in an upright position, for example when you are standing on a ladder or riding a bicycle: · I tried to help Gina up, but I lost my balance and we both fell into the stream.· Bill was leaning over to watch, and lost his balance.
to lose your balance because your foot slips, especially when you are walking or climbing over an uneven or slippery surface: · I lost my footing on the snowy bank and fell into the river.· A climber who lost his footing was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He wanted to put their relationship on a permanent footing. The firm started the new year on a stronger financial footing. They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing. The whole country was on a war footing (=ready to go to war at any time). Seb struggled to keep his footing on the slippery path.
1[singular] the conditions or arrangements on which something is basedput/place something on a ... footing He wanted to put their relationship on a permanent footing. The firm started the new year on a stronger financial footing. (=in the same state or condition as other people or things) The new law puts women on an equal legal footing with men. Many of the old polytechnics are now on the same footing as universities.
The new law puts women on an equal legal footing with men. Many of the old polytechnics are now on the same footing as universities. They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing. The whole country was on a war footing (=ready to go to war at any time). Seb struggled to keep his footing on the slippery path. (=be unable to keep standing or balancing) The girl lost her footing and fell about 150 feet.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE The girl lost her footing and fell about 150 feet.· It was not until 1923 that the sexes, on this ground, were placed on an equal footing.· Buthelezi had repeatedly insisted on a meeting with Mandela on an equal footing and in his capacity as head of Inkatha.· Magistrates may have some difficulty in putting on an equal footing Social Services Departments, and the parents of children in care.· This has enabled domestic markets to compete on a much more equal footing.· If the supplier is on an equal footing with the buyer there will be no implied undertaking.· Buthelezi for his part had frequently called for such a meeting, insisting on meeting Mandela on an equal footing.· It would be nice to think they might meet on an equal footing.
· Administration was placed on a sounder financial footing, its distribution made visible and public.· Mr von der Burg was, its seems, unable to establish the shop on a firm financial footing.
· But development in post-war Britain would be on a rather firmer footing.· Mr von der Burg was, its seems, unable to establish the shop on a firm financial footing.· This will give a firm footing and will stand up to the constant flow of traffic.
· Administration was placed on a sounder financial footing, its distribution made visible and public.
NOUN· The economy remained on a war footing during 1989 with between 30 and 40 percent of the budget being spent on defence.· The area was on a war footing and all was bustle and preparation, expecting the hourly arrival of the enemy.· The North has responded to the manoeuvres by putting its armed forces on a semi war footing.· The Works was now on a war footing.
VERB· The threat of the soldiers was momentarily forgotten as she struggled to keep her footing and prevent the animal from bolting.· Below the bend the water remained sufficiently shallow close to the bank for Trent to keep his footing.
· Corbett lost his footing and went down, his flailing hands seeking something to grip.· Campese lost his footing and fell heavily during yesterday's training session at Swansea University.· But even as he reached for the man he lost his footing.· I lost my footing at one point and collected a few bruises.· Sometimes people lost their footing and brought down others, quickly making a writhing heap on the floor.· The light was barely bright enough to ensure that they did not lose their footing.· He connected up with the wave again another twenty-five feet down, but lost his footing and fell.· He waltzed and pirouetted and then, to my horror, he lost his footing.
· It was real windy up there and if you missed your footing you didn't get a second chance.· Weir missed his footing as they neared the door.· But in my hurry to get away from whatever it was in the bed I missed my footing and fell.· I also missed my footing and went plunging forward, only by luck managing to keep myself upright.· She had taken only a couple of steps when in her haste she missed her footing.· She missed her footing in the end and stepped into a puddle about two inches deep.· Very near the top of the tree she missed her footing and slipped.
· It was not until 1923 that the sexes, on this ground, were placed on an equal footing.
· Magistrates may have some difficulty in putting on an equal footing Social Services Departments, and the parents of children in care.
He wanted to put their relationship on a permanent footing.a financial/commercial/legal etc footing The firm started the new year on a stronger financial footing.on an equal footing (with somebody/something)/on the same footing (as somebody/something) (=in the same state or condition as other people or things) The new law puts women on an equal legal footing with men. Many of the old polytechnics are now on the same footing as universities.a sound/firm/secure footing They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing. The whole country was on a war footing (=ready to go to war at any time).2[singular] a firm hold with your feet when you are standing on a dangerous surface: Seb struggled to keep his footing on the slippery path.lose/miss your footing (=be unable to keep standing or balancing) The girl lost her footing and fell about 150 feet.3[countable usually plural] the solid base of bricks, stone etc that is under a building to support it and fasten it to the ground SYN foundation