toe

[ toh ]

/ toʊ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR toe ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

one of the terminal digits of the human foot.

an analogous part in certain animals.

the forepart of the foot or hoof of a horse or the like.

the forepart of anything worn on the foot, as of a shoe or stocking.

a part resembling a toe in shape or position.

Railroads. the end of a frog in front of the point and in the direction of the switch.

Machinery.

a journal or part placed vertically in a bearing, as the lower end of a vertical shaft.
a curved partial cam lifting the flat surface of a follower and letting it drop; wiper.

Golf. the outer end of the head of a club.

verb (used with object), toed, toe·ing.

to furnish with a toe or toes.

to touch or reach with the toes: The pitcher toed the mound, wound up, and threw a fastball.

to kick with the toe.

Golf. to strike (the ball) with the toe of the club.

Carpentry.

to drive (a nail) obliquely.
to toenail.

verb (used without object), toed, toe·ing.

to stand, walk, etc., with the toes in a specified position: to toe in.

to tap with the toe, as in dancing.

Idioms for toe

on one's toes, energetic; alert; ready: The spirited competition kept them on their toes.

step/tread on (someone's) toes, to offend (a person); encroach on the territory or sphere of responsibility of (another): The new employee stepped on a lot of toes when he suggested reorganizing the office.

toe the line. line¹(def 83).

Origin of toe

before 900; Middle English; Old English tā; cognate with Dutch teen, German Zehe, Old Norse tā

OTHER WORDS FROM toe

toe·less, adjective toe·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH toe

toe tow

Words nearby toe

toddy, toddy palm, toddy table, todt, tody, toe, toe and heel, toe box, toe clip, toe crack, toe dance

British Dictionary definitions for on one's toes

toe

/ (təʊ) /

noun

any one of the digits of the foot

the corresponding part in other vertebrates

the part of a shoe, sock, etc, covering the toes

anything resembling a toe in shape or position

the front part of the head of a golf club, hockey stick, etc

the lower bearing of a vertical shaft assembly

the tip of a cam follower that engages the cam profile

dip one's toe in or dip one's toes in informal to begin doing or try something new or unfamiliar

on one's toes alert

tread on someone's toes to offend or insult a person, esp by trespassing on his or her field of responsibility

turn up one's toes informal to die

Australian slang speed a player with plenty of toe

verb toes, toeing or toed

(tr) to touch, kick, or mark with the toe

(tr) golf to strike (the ball) with the toe of the club

(tr) to drive (a nail, spike, etc) obliquely

(intr) to walk with the toes pointing in a specified direction to toe inwards

toe the line to conform to expected standards, attitudes, etc

Derived forms of toe

toelike, adjective

Word Origin for toe

Old English tā; related to Old Frisian tāne, Old Norse tā, Old High German zēha, Latin digitus finger

Medical definitions for on one's toes

toe

[ tō ]

n.

Any of the digits of a foot.

Idioms and Phrases with on one's toes (1 of 2)

on one's toes

Alert, ready to act, as in Orchestra players must be on their toes all the time, so as not to miss an entrance. This metaphoric expression probably alludes to boxers or runners who must be on their toes in order to move or start quickly. It gained currency with Richard Rodgers' and Lorenz Hart's extremely popular musical, On Your Toes (1936). [Early 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with on one's toes (2 of 2)

toe

In addition to the idiom beginning with toe

toe the line

also see:

dip one's toes into
from head to toe
on one's toes
step on someone's toes
turn up one's toes

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

toe

noun

verb (used with object), toed, toe·ing.

verb (used without object), toed, toe·ing.

Idioms for toe

Origin of toe

OTHER WORDS FROM toe

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH toe

Words nearby toe

British Dictionary definitions for on one's toes

noun

verb toes, toeing or toed

Derived forms of toe

Word Origin for toe

Medical definitions for on one's toes

n.

Idioms and Phrases with on one's toes (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with on one's toes (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

toe

noun

verb (used with object), toed, toe·ing.

verb (used without object), toed, toe·ing.

Idioms for toe

Origin of toe

OTHER WORDS FROM toe

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH toe

Words nearby toe

Words related to on one's toes

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for on one's toes

noun

verb toes, toeing or toed

Derived forms of toe

Word Origin for toe

Medical definitions for on one's toes

n.

Idioms and Phrases with on one's toes (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with on one's toes (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for on one's toes