flat footed

/flæt ˈfʊtɪd/
adjective
  1. Having feet with arches that are lower than normal, so the entire sole touches the ground when standing.
    • He was flat-footed and needed special shoes for support.
    • The doctor said being flat-footed can cause back pain.
    • Many children are flat-footed when they are young but grow out of it.
  2. Not ready or prepared; caught off guard.
    • The sudden question caught him flat-footed during the interview.
    • The team was caught flat-footed by the opponent's surprise attack.
    • She was flat-footed when the boss asked for the report a day early.
  3. Clumsy or awkward in movement or action.
    • She felt flat-footed trying to keep up with the fast-paced game.
    • His flat-footed dancing made everyone laugh.
    • The flat-footed attempt to fix the sink only made the leak worse.