best foot forward
Meaning
To make a strong, positive impression by behaving or performing at your best, especially at the start of something.
Origin
From the literal idea of stepping out with your “best” foot when beginning a journey or entering a place; figuratively it came to mean starting well and showing your best self. Recorded in English from at least the 16th–17th centuries.
Notes
Common for interviews, first meetings, or a new start. Often means “show your best self,” sometimes with a slight sense of “making a good show.”
Examples
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On your first day at the new job, try to put your best foot forward and be polite to everyone.
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She put her best foot forward during the interview by preparing examples of her work.
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Even though he was exhausted, he put his best foot forward at the client meeting.
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Let’s put our best foot forward and make a good impression on the visiting team.
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They’re putting their best foot forward for the annual review, updating their portfolio and metrics.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as “put your best foot forward.” It can be a noun phrase (“your best foot forward”) after verbs like put, bring. Fixed wording; rarely pluralized or rearranged.
Synonyms
- make a good impression
- put your best face on
- show your best side
- do your best
Antonyms
- let yourself go
- make a bad impression