Name: English Tutor Nick P Proverbs (141) Put Your Best Foot Forward
Uploaded: 2019-08-06T00:56:12.000Z
Duration: 3 min 43 s
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Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Proverbs 141. The proverb today is put

The superlative

your best foot forward. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone puts

Modal verbs - A2

his or her best foot forward , he or she tries as hard as they possibly can or

they have the ability  to do something. So they're trying as much as

as they have the ability to do. They're doing their best. All right. So let's,

let's continue with the note here. The first citing of this proverb is found

in a poem by Sir Thomas Overbury named "A Wife" in the early 1600's.  So that,

that one was pretty exact. Where it says you know,  put your best foot forward.

There may have been some earlier versions of this proverb. You know,  before

the 1600s. One of the most popular you know,  one of the earlier ones is a line

in a Shakespeare ... in Shakespeare's King Lear that play. Here is the quote "Nay but

make haste the better foot before. " Okay. So nay is always a negative like

don't. Don't make haste. Don't,  don't waste time. The better ... you know,  put your

best foot forward basically. The idea the better foot before. Well it's not an

exact match to put your best foot forward but the idea is pretty similar.

So the idea of this proverb might have been around even before the 1600s. It may

have formed into this in the 1600s. So even Shakespeare use the better foot

before. Meaning put the better foot out front.

Basically. So same idea basically. Let's continue. The origin of how it came about

you know,  how it started is uncertain. So they don't know 100%,  is uncertain but

there are a few theories. One history tour claimed that when young ladies made

curtsies ... you know,  like in the old days.  They,  they pulled the dress out and they

went down like this. They were told to put their best foot

forwards.  Because they had to put one forward,  foot forward and then bend down

like that in order to make a curtsy. Or young men made a bow. They were told to

put their best foot forward. So maybe they put their foot forward and they

bowed down. So . Yeah. Okay. So that could be a possibility from where it came from.  It sounds

logical.  I don't know if it's really correct.  They don't seem to be able to

find proof of this,  but it is a theory that some people think. Another possible

theory of the origin is to put your best foot forward or right foot forward. Because

remember,  they often especially in the Middle Ages right and left,  right was

good last was bad. So maybe for a long journey you should start with your best

foot which would be your right foot.  basically. That's kind of what they're

saying. All right. And we just got a couple of examples here. If you are going

on an interview. Always put your best foot forward.

Okay. That's typical of what somebody might say.  You know , try your hardest do your best

It's kind of like that idea. Or number two. If you want to impress the boss , you

must put your best foot forward on this project. You must do your best. So that

you know , he'll notice you. That you'll impress him.

Okay.  I hope you got it.  I hope it's clear.  Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.