footsie1
/ˈfʊtsi
/noun [mass noun] informal
The action of touching someone’s feet lightly with one’s own feet, especially under a table, as a playful expression of romantic interest: he was playing footsie under the table with Mara...
- He's noticed the very indiscreet game of footsie underneath the table, probably because Stephen just kicked him thinking that was Jules' foot.
- All that lip-wrestling in the conference room, footsie in the canteen and fumbling in the office toilets is coming back to haunt workers in the UK.
- Then a follow-up after treatment with expensive drug X shows her playing open-sandaled under-the-table footsie with her more adoring boyfriend!
Phrases
play footsie
Origin
1940s: humorous diminutive of foot.
Rhymes
Footsie2
/ˈfʊtsi/noun British trademark
Informal term for FTSE index.
Origin
1980s: fanciful elaboration of FTSE, influenced by footsie.