flatfooted

From flat (adjective) +‎ footed (adjective).

flatfooted (comparative more flatfooted, superlative most flatfooted)

1. Alternative form of flat-footed.
   1. Of an animal: having feet which are naturally flat; (specifically) of a horse: having hoofs with soles close to the ground.
      • 1980, Peter Hellman, “Tree Number E-37: Sietske Postma and Family”, in Avenue of the Righteous, New York, N.Y.: Atheneum, →ISBN, page 82:

        He claimed that Jews walk flatfooted like a camel—including me.

   2. Of a person: having the physical condition of flat feet (“a condition where the soles of the feet are in full contact with the ground, either because the arches have collapsed or because they never developed”).
      • 1986, F[rancis] Paul Wilson, “Dat Tay Vao”, in The Touch (The Adversary Cycle; III), New York, N.Y.: Putnam, →ISBN; republished in Shane Jiraiya Cummings, editor, Rage against the Night, Woodvale, W.A.: Brimstone Press, March 2012, →ISBN, section 1, page 199:

        The figure came up and squatted flatfooted on his haunches next to Patsy. In the dim glow of starlight and streetlight he saw a wrinkled face and a silvery goatee.

      • 1988, Carmen Tabije Andin, Teaching Physical Education in Philippine Schools, →ISBN, page 147:

        Hit take-off board flatfooted in a hard stamp; take-off feet under body with slight dip at knee.

      • 2011, Peg Tittle, Critical Thinking: An Appeal to Reason, →ISBN:

        Most small children are flatfooted.

   3. Blunt and unsubtle; lacking finesse; clumsy.
      • 2010, Scott Aikin, Epistemology and the Regress Problem, →ISBN:

        This flatfooted sketch of how experience provides us with reasons has two nodes.

      • 2010, Chris Lewit, Tennis Technique Bible: The Essential Reference for Mastering World-class Strokes and Footwork, volume 1, [Manchester, Vt.]: Chris Lewit Tennis, →ISBN, page 20:

        I have many top ranked sectional and national level kids come to my program and I cannot even believe how flatfooted they are—not because they lack the talent—simply because no coach ever demanded the extra footwork effort from them.

      • 2011, Emily W. Leider, Myrna Loy: The Only Good Girl in Hollywood, →ISBN:

        It's contrived and flatfooted, and neither Loy nor Powell enjoyed making it, despite its bang-up finale: a free-for-all wedding featuring two brides (Margit and Irene), two grooms, a confused preacher, quite a few drunks from the bar next door, and a maximum of conmmotion—all crammed into Charlie's tiny trailer in a Capra-esque crowd scene.

   4. (figurative)
      1. (US) Unprepared, unready.
         • 2007, David D. Corbett, with Richard Higgins, “Trailblazing”, in Portfolio Life: The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Passion After 50, San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 12:

           To those who are younger, perhaps still building a career, I say to you, plan for it! No one should be caught flatfooted by the lengthening of middle age

         • 2009, Tami Hoag, Deeper than the Dead, London: Orion Books, Orion Publishing Group, published 2010, →ISBN, page 244:

           Caught mentally flatfooted, Anne couldn't think of a response. She was guilty as charged. She didn't deserve to defend herself.

         • 2014, Luke Patey, The New Kings of Crude, →ISBN:

           In contrast, as the crisis unfolded, India stood flatfooted, only reacting after the damage was done.

      2. (originally US, informal, dated) Direct, downright, straightforward; also, holding firmly to and maintaining a decision; standing one's ground.
         • 1952, William T. Campbell, Big Beverage, Atlanta, Ga.: Tupper & Love, →OCLC, page 269:

           Proficient drinkers could spill out an ounce, or an ounce and a half, or two, from the neck of a Solo Soda bottle in the dark, measured to the very dram, refill it with corn whisky, turn it upside down with the thumb placed carefully over the bottle's lip—for a good mix, and luck—and drink it down, flatfooted.

• flatfootedly
• flatfootedness

From flatfoot +‎ -ed (suffix forming past tense forms of regular verbs).

flatfooted

1. simple past and past participle of flatfoot (Alternative form of flat-footed).