Word
foxtrot
Phoneticsfox·trot
US/ˈfɑkstɹɑt/
UK/fˈɒkstɹɒt/
Definition
n. a smooth, elegant ballroom dance that involves long, flowing steps. You usually dance it to jazz or big band music.
n. a ballroom dance in 4/4 time characterized by long, continuous flowing movements and across-the-floor travel. Often performed to big band or swing music, it alternates between slow and quick steps.
Examples
“The couple performed a beautiful foxtrot at the wedding.”
“After weeks of practice, they finally mastered the basic steps of the foxtrot for the regional ballroom competition.”
“While the waltz relies on a three-beat rotation, the foxtrot demands a more linear progression across the dance floor, requiring precise synchronization between partners to maintain its characteristic smoothness.”
Examples
simple
“The couple performed a beautiful foxtrot at the wedding.”
contextual
“After weeks of practice, they finally mastered the basic steps of the foxtrot for the regional ballroom competition.”
complex
“While the waltz relies on a three-beat rotation, the foxtrot demands a more linear progression across the dance floor, requiring precise synchronization between partners to maintain its characteristic smoothness.”
Usage
Countable when referring to the dance itself; uncountable when referring to the style of music or movement.
Real-World Examples
“The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by its slow step, and long, sinuous movements.” “Over time, the foxtrot split into slow and quick versions, referred to as "foxtrot" and "quickstep" respectively.” “In his 1960 book, Standard American Foxtrot, John Clancy reports that "foxtrot has been the most consistently popular social dance in the United States for the past half century" [JC60].” “The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor.” Etymology
From fox + trot, a ballroom dance in 4/4 time whose steps were originally likened to the horse's gait.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
foxtrot oscar — A polite or coded way to tell someone to go away or leave immediately, often used to avoid using a common swear word.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/foxtrot