Phrase guide

feet on the ground

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Used to indicate behavior or manner characteristic of a sensible and practical person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only, usually

Examples

  • We think we can trust John with this new position, as he has his feet on the ground.
  • The genre of business advice and career advice sometimes comically mixes its metaphors, as for example when it tells us that we must keep our feet on the ground and must also reach for the stars at the same time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: head in the clouds

2

noun

Meaning 2

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see feet, on, ground.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 脚踏实地 (jiǎotàshídì) — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Dutch: met beide voeten op de grond blijven — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Finnish: pitää jalat maassa — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • French: avoir les pieds sur terre — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • German: fest auf der Erde stehen — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • German: auf eigenen Füßen stehen — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Icelandic: hafa jarðsamband — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Italian: piedi per terra — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Polish: but see stąpać twardo po ziemi — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Portuguese: pés na terra — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Russian: твёрдо стоя́ть на нога́х (tvjórdo stojátʹ na nogáx) — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"
  • Swedish: ha fötterna på jorden — translations for "have one's feet on the ground"