Meaning & use
fleetest of foot
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseliterary
The fastest runner among a group of people or animals.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase after 'the'; it describes one person or animal, and the verb that follows is singular.
Patterns
- the fleetest of foot
- be the fleetest of foot among someone
In the old story, the fleetest of foot was sent to carry the news.
She was the fleetest of foot in the village and won every race.
Among the horses, the fleetest of foot took the lead early.
phrasefixed phraseliterary
Very quick at running; swift on foot.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb such as 'be' or 'seem' to describe someone's speed, not to name a person.
Patterns
- be fleetest of foot
- seem fleetest of foot
The young deer seemed fleetest of foot when danger appeared.
He was fleetest of foot in his youth and could outrun anyone.
Common combinations
- the fleetest of foot
- The fleetest of foot reached the finish line first.
- be fleetest of foot
- She was fleetest of foot among all the runners.
- prove fleetest of foot
- In the final race, he proved fleetest of foot.
- among the fleetest of foot
- Among the fleetest of foot, only two could keep that pace.
Synonyms and how they differ
- swiftest
- A more general word for the fastest at anything, not only at running; 'fleetest of foot' is limited to speed on foot.
- quickest
- More everyday and less literary; you would use it in normal speech, while 'fleetest of foot' sounds like a story or poem.
- fastest runner
- A plain, modern way to say the same thing; it is clearer in ordinary conversation than the literary phrase.
Opposites
Word family
- fleet adjective
- Literally or poetically fast and nimble, especially on foot.
- fleetly adverb
- In a swift, nimble way; rare outside literary writing.
- fleetness noun
- The quality of being fast and nimble.
Commonly confused: fleetest of foot or fleet? fleetest of foot or feat?
fleetest of foot vs fleet
As a noun, 'fleet' means a group of ships, cars, or planes, which is a very different meaning from the adjective 'fleet' meaning fast.
fleetest of foot vs feat
'Feat' sounds similar but means an impressive achievement, not speed; 'fleetest of foot' is about running fast.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'fleetest of foot' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'The fleetest of foot' works as a noun phrase meaning the fastest runner, so it can be the subject of 'was chosen'. Option A wrongly uses it before a noun like an adjective, option C uses 'than' with a phrase that is not comparative in that way, and option D is awkward because the phrase is literary and normally stands alone as a noun phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fleetest of foot”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.