# kick with the other foot

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/kick-with-the-other-foot
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To belong to a different religion.

## Examples

- 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.

## 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. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.