off on the wrong foot

off on the wrong foot

From a poor, unfavorable, or unfortunate position, especially at the beginning of something. I'm sorry, I think the interview just got off on the wrong foot. How about we start over from the beginning? Make sure you're on time and dressed professionally. You don't want to start off on the wrong foot on your very first day of work, do you?

See also: foot, off, on, wrong

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*off on the wrong foot

 and *off to a bad start

Fig. starting something (such as a friendship) with negative factors. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) Bill and Tom got off on the wrong foot. They had a minor car accident just before they were introduced. Let's work hard to befriends. I hate to get off on the wrong foot.

See also: foot, off, on, wrong

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.