What does it Mean to ‘Put Your Foot Down’?

To put your foot down means to assert yourself strongly; to take a firm stand; to indicate that you are unyielding and inflexible in your decision.

If in a tussle, a person sets his foot firmly on the ground so as not to be pushed back by his rival, he is asserting himself strongly. He is making it abundantly clear that he is unyielding and won’t budge from his position.

This vivid image of a person standing his ground has been transferred to the figurative meaning of this term.

Let’s see an example —

“I had to put my foot down and say no when my kids asked me to go to Paris this summer.”

It means I had to assert myself clearly and directly.

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Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.