footing
/ˈfʊtɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [fˈʊtɪŋ] /ˈfʊtɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [fˈʊtɪŋ] /ˈfu̇-tiŋ How to pronounce footing (audio)/ (ame, mw)
footing — 名詞
1. the ability to keep your feet steady on a surface, especially one that is steep,
站穩腳步
在滑溜或危險表面上站穩的能力
the ability to keep your feet steady on a surface, especially one that is steep, slippery, or uneven
Wei struggled to keep his footing on the steep muddy bank after the storm.
Wei 在暴風雨後努力在陡峭泥濘的岸邊站穩腳步。
keep + possessive + footing
Mei-Lin checked her footing before stepping onto the icy pavement outside her flat.
Mei-Lin 踏上公寓外結冰的人行道前，先確認自己站穩了。
Loose gravel made it hard for Diego to find secure footing on the mountain trail.
鬆散的碎石讓 Diego 很難在山徑上找到穩固的立足點。
The old stone steps were so worn that Grace lost her footing and grabbed the rail.
古老的石階磨損得太厲害，Grace 腳下一滑，趕緊抓住欄杆。
Omar's boots slipped twice on the wet cobblestones before he could regain his footing.
Omar 的靴子在濕滑的鵝卵石上滑了兩次，才重新站穩腳步。
文法句型
lose + possessive + footing
keep + possessive + footing
find + possessive + footing
用法筆記
The verbs 'lose', 'keep', and 'find' are the three most common partners for this sense. 'Lose your footing' means you slip or stumble; 'keep your footing' means you stay upright.
常見錯誤
2. the basic conditions that support a group, project, or relationship — for exampl
基礎條件
支撐組織、計劃或關係運作的基礎
the basic conditions that support a group, project, or relationship — for example, having enough money behind an organisation, or a clear legal right to act
Dr. Okonkwo's research centre opened on a solid financial footing thanks to a five-year government grant.
Okonkwo 博士的研究中心憑藉一筆五年政府補助金，從一開始就建立在穩固的財務基礎上。
on a + adjective + footing
After the sudden merger, Hana's printing business took six months to get back on a stable footing.
意外合併後，Hana 的印刷公司花了六個月才恢復穩固的營運基礎。
Nadia wanted to understand the legal footing for the council's planning decision.
Nadia 想了解市議會規劃決策的法律依據。
Rosa and Ibrahim's working relationship began on a footing of mutual respect and honesty.
Rosa 和 Ibrahim 的工作關係從一開始就建立在相互尊重和誠實的基礎上。
Kwame insisted the new rule had no footing in the organisation's own constitution.
Kwame 堅稱這條新規定在組織自身的章程中毫無根據。
- basis
more neutral and common; 'footing' adds a sense of stability or security
- foundation
often more permanent and structural than 'footing'
- ground
used in similar phrases like 'on solid ground'; less formal than 'footing'
文法句型
on a + adjective + footing
a + adjective + footing + for
用法筆記
Common adjectives with this sense include 'solid', 'firm', 'stable', 'sound', 'legal', and 'financial'. Distinguish from sense 3: here the focus is the basis for operating, not the comparative status.
常見錯誤
3. the position a person or group holds in relation to others, always used in the p
處境；地位
與他人處於同等的地位或關係
the position a person or group holds in relation to others, always used in the pattern 'on a … footing' — such as equal footing, firm footing, or friendly footing
When the teachers' union sat down with the education board, both sides were on an equal footing for the first time.
教師工會與教育局坐下來談判時，雙方首次以平等地位協商。
on an equal footing
At budget meetings, Tariq's proposals were never given equal footing with those of senior managers.
在預算會議上，Tariq 的提案從未被放在與資深主管同等的地位看待。
The new law puts small businesses on the same footing as large corporations for tax.
新法讓小企業在稅務上與大公司享有同等地位。
Leila joined the small architecture firm on an equal footing with the two founders who had run it for over a decade.
Leila 加入這家小型建築事務所，與經營了十多年的兩位創始人享有同等地位。
Elena pushed the hospital board to put part-time nurses on an equal footing with senior doctors for voting rights.
Elena 推動醫院董事會讓兼職護理師在投票權方面與資深醫師享有同等地位。
文法句型
on an equal footing (with)
on the same footing (as)
put + someone + on an equal footing
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'on an equal footing' or 'on the same footing'. The word before 'footing' names the kind of relationship (equal, firm, friendly). Distinguish from sense 2: sense 3 is about comparing the standing of individuals and groups, not about the basis for operating.
常見錯誤
4. a state of readiness in which a country organises its armed forces and resources
備戰狀態
國家動員軍隊與資源準備作戰的狀態
a state of readiness in which a country organises its armed forces and resources for possible armed conflict
The government placed the navy on a war footing within hours of the border clash.
邊境衝突發生後數小時內，政府就讓海軍進入備戰狀態。
on a war footing
The northern steel mill switched to a war footing and began producing tank parts.
北部的鋼鐵廠轉為備戰狀態，開始生產坦克零件。
Ravi's grandfather remembered the day India moved to a war footing in 1971.
Ravi 的祖父記得 1971 年印度進入備戰狀態的那一天。
The air base remained on a war footing for the entire six weeks of the crisis.
空軍基地在整個六週危機期間始終保持備戰狀態。
- readiness
broader term; not restricted to military contexts
- mobilisation
refers to the act of assembling forces, while 'war footing' describes the ongoing state
- peacetime footing
the normal, non-emergency state of a country's armed forces
文法句型
on a war footing
put + on a war footing
move to a war footing
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in the phrase 'on a war footing'. Can occasionally be extended metaphorically to describe any emergency mobilisation of resources (e.g. 'on a crisis footing').
5. how the ground surface of a sports field, race track, or path feels underfoot, a
地面狀況
運動場或賽道表面適合跑步與行走的程度
how the ground surface of a sports field, race track, or path feels underfoot, and how easy or hard it is to run or walk across it
Heavy overnight rain left the racecourse with very soft footing for the afternoon meet.
一夜大雨讓賽馬場地面變得非常鬆軟，影響了下午的賽事。
soft footing (track condition)
The footing on the rugby pitch was dangerously uneven after three matches in heavy rain.
三場大雨中的比賽過後，橄欖球場的地面狀況變得危險不平。
Long-distance runners complained that the footing on the cross-country path was dangerously slick.
長跑選手抱怨越野路徑的路面濕滑危險。
Ground staff worked through the night to improve the footing before the tournament semi-finals.
場地工作人員徹夜工作，在錦標賽準決賽前改善地面狀況。
文法句型
footing + is/was + adjective
good/soft/firm + footing
用法筆記
Used mainly in horse racing, athletics, and field sports. Common adjectives are 'good', 'soft', 'firm', 'heavy', and 'fast'. British English sometimes uses 'going' as a near-synonym in horse-racing contexts.