Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Proverbs 141. The proverb today is put
your best foot forward. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone puts
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.