English Reference
Idiom idiom

lead foot


A habit of driving fast.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He has a lead foot and always drives too fast.

CONTEXTUAL

My brother got another speeding ticket because he has such a lead foot on the highway.

COMPLEX

Despite the winding mountain roads and heavy rain, the driver maintained a lead foot, much to the alarm of his passengers.


A gas pedal needs to be pushed down using one's foot to go faster. If a foot was made of lead it would be very heavy, making it easier to depress the pedal.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all roads lead to Rome

    Different paths can take one to the same goal.

  2. 02

    beat feet

    To run.

  3. 03

    drag one's feet

    To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.

  4. 04

    feet first

    In the manner of a deceased person (i.e., dead).

  5. 05

    feet of clay

    In someone apparently strong and without failings, a hidden weakness which could lead to downfall.

  6. 06

    find one's feet

    To grow in confidence in a new situation as one gains experience.

  7. 07

    foot the bill

    To pay for something.

  8. 08

    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.

Last updated August 10, 2026