barefoot
/'beə'futid/
Definition
Adjective:
- Without shoes or other footwear on the feet: Describes a person, animal, or action performed with the feet uncovered.
- Characterized by being unshod: Often implies a natural, simple, or informal state.
Adverb:
- In a manner without shoes: Describes the way an action is performed, specifically with the feet bare.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The barefoot child ran across the warm sand.
- She prefers a barefoot lifestyle at home.
- Adverb:
- He walked barefoot through the cool grass.
- They danced barefoot on the wooden floor.
Advanced Usage
"Barefoot and pregnant": An idiom, often considered dated and offensive, historically used to describe a stereotypical role of a woman confined to domestic life.
- The archaic notion of keeping women barefoot and pregnant is widely rejected today.
"Barefoot doctor": A historical term for village healthcare workers in mid-20th century China who provided basic medical services, often without formal training or resources.
- The barefoot doctors played a crucial role in rural healthcare.
Variants and Related Words
- Barefooted (adj/adv): An alternative form with the same meaning as 'barefoot'.
- The barefooted monk walked silently.
Synonyms
- Unshod: (adj) Not wearing shoes; a more formal synonym.
- Shoeless: (adj) Without shoes; a direct synonym.
Related Phrases
- To go barefoot: To choose not to wear shoes.
- In summer, I love to go barefoot in the garden.
Idioms
- As tenderfooted as a barefoot boy on a hot griddle: An exaggerated simile describing extreme sensitivity or discomfort (regional/folksy).
- After his first hike, he was as tenderfooted as a barefoot boy on a hot griddle.
Adjective
-
without shoes
-
the barefoot boy
-
shoeless Joe Jackson
-
Adverb
-
without shoes on
-
he chased her barefoot across the meadow
-
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ gần giống
Từ chứa "barefoot"
Từ có nhắc đến "barefoot"