World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariescogto alla sprovvista
Native Script:colto alla sprovvista
Pronunciation / Transliteration: kol-to al-la spro-vis-sta
"L'azienda è stata colta alla sprovvista dai cambiamenti di mercato."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
3 senses- 1
Unprepared, surprised, or caught off guard, often leaving one vulnerable to sudden challenges or attacks.
"The sudden market crash caught the investment firm completely flat-footed." - 2
Having feet with arches that are flat or low, causing the entire sole to touch the ground.
"The physical examination confirmed that he was flat-footed, which required him to wear orthopedic inserts." - 3
Direct, uncompromising, and resolute in stance or opinion.
"She took a flat-footed approach against corruption in the department."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the anatomical condition of having flat feet (pes planus), where the arches of the feet are fully or partially in contact with the ground. By the late 19th century, the term extended metaphorically in North American English to describe someone unprepared, caught off guard, or standing firmly and resolutely.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Flat-footed"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Flat-footed" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
pris au dépourvu
Transliteration: pree oh deh-poor-voo
"Les autorités ont été prises au dépourvu par la nouvelle."
unvorbereitet
Transliteration: un-for-be-rai-tet
"Die Krise hat die Regierung unvorbereitet getroffen."
cogto alla sprovvista
Transliteration: kol-to al-la spro-vis-sta
Script: colto alla sprovvista
"L'azienda è stata colta alla sprovvista dai cambiamenti di mercato."
desprevenido
Transliteration: des-pre-be-ni-do
"La noticia sorprendió a todos desprevenidos."
pego de surpresa
Transliteration: pe-go dji sur-pre-za
"O anúncio pegou a equipe de surpresa."
असावधान
Transliteration: asaavdhan
"इस अचानक बदलाव ने हमें असावधान कर दिया।"
毫无防备的
Transliteration: háo wú fáng bèi de
"突如其来的变化让他们毫无防备。"
허를 찔린
Transliteration: heo-reul jril-lin
"그들은 갑작스럽게 허를 찔렸다."
油断した
Transliteration: yudan shita
"その知らせで彼らは油断を突かれた。"
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A bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by closely spaced frames or bents.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Flat-footed"
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