on one foot

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Pronunciations

on one foot (on one foot) listen

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Definitions

  • adv. Off-the-cuff; in short.

  • adv. (of a question) Answered very briefly.

Example Sentences

  • Resources like this are common: "Reconstructionism on One Foot," "On One Foot: A Middle East guide for the perplexed," "Shabbat On One Foot: Making a Case for its Celebration"

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish
  • English

Etymology

  • Translation of Hebrew על רגל אחת or Yiddish (על־רגל־אַחת al-regl-akhes) or direct Yiddish translation of the Hebrew אױף אײן פֿוס oyf eyn fus

      • Who Uses This

      • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education

      Regions

      • North America
      • Australia / New Zealand
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • None

Notes

  • From a Talmudic story about Rabbi Hillel summarizing the Torah to a potential convert while standing on one foot. This corresponds word-for-word (and in meaning) to the other Yiddish expression אויף אײן פֿוס af eyn fus, derived from the Germanic component.

    See also al regel achat.

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