kick with the other foot
To belong to a different religion.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He kicks with the other foot, so he attends a different church.”
“She kicks with the other foot and goes to a mosque instead.”
“In our small town, people often ask if you kick with the other foot when they learn about your family background.”
“My grandfather was surprised to learn that his new son-in-law kicks with the other foot and follows a different faith.”
“The two families lived next door for decades, even though they knew the other household kicked with the other foot.”
“The community remained deeply divided by tradition, with neighbors often whispering about who kicked with the other foot during the local religious festivals.”
disputed origin
The idiom is said to originate from sectarian differences in the design of farming implements used by Catholic and Protestant communities. In this unproven account, the construction of the spade required a different foot to be used for digging depending on the worker's religious affiliation and the corresponding local manufacturing preferences. The story remains a popular but unverified explanation for the expression.
- 01
beat feet
To run.
- 02
drag one's feet
To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.
- 03
feet first
In the manner of a deceased person (i.e., dead).
- 04
feet of clay
In someone apparently strong and without failings, a hidden weakness which could lead to downfall.
- 05
find one's feet
To grow in confidence in a new situation as one gains experience.
- 06
foot the bill
To pay for something.
- 07
foot voting
Expressing one's preferences through one's actions, by voluntarily participating in or withdrawing from an activity, group, or process; especially, physical migration to leave a situation one does not like, or to move to a situation one regards as more beneficial.
- 08
get a kick out of
To be delighted by; to be amused by.
Last updated August 10, 2026