foot fault

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablesport

   An error in tennis when a server touches the baseline or steps into the court before hitting the ball.

   Grammar: Countable: she was called for a foot fault.

   Patterns

   • be called for a foot fault
   • make a foot fault

   The umpire called a foot fault on her second serve.

   He lost the point because of a foot fault.

   A foot fault can ruin a good serve.

2. 2nouncountablesport

   Any similar mistake in another sport caused by stepping over a line at the wrong moment, such as in volleyball or bowling.

   Grammar: Used in sports with a boundary line.

   Patterns

   • commit a foot fault

   The volleyball server committed a foot fault by crossing the end line.

   A foot fault in bowling means stepping over the foul line.

   The official signaled a foot fault.

Word forms

Common combinations

call a foot fault

The line judge called a foot fault.

commit a foot fault

She committed a foot fault on a crucial serve.

second-serve foot fault

A second-serve foot fault gave away the point.

foot fault warning

The referee gave a foot fault warning.

avoid foot faults

Players practice to avoid foot faults.

Synonyms and how they differ

line violation

Line violation is a general term for stepping over any line, while foot fault is the tennis-specific term.

fault

Fault is any serving error, while a foot fault is specifically caused by the feet.

overstep

Overstep is the general idea of crossing a boundary, whereas foot fault is the official ruling.

Opposites

Word family

fault noun

an error in serving

double fault noun

two failed serves in a row, losing the point

foot noun

the part of the body at the end of the leg

baseline noun

the line at the back of a tennis court

Commonly confused: foot fault or double fault?

Practice

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