get off on the right foot

Meaning

This idiom means to start a relationship, project, or new career path in a positive, successful, and friendly way. It implies making a good first impression or setting a constructive tone from the very beginning. It is highly common in professional environments when welcoming new clients or employees.

Examples

• Let's buy them lunch to make sure we get off on the right foot with the new clients.

  Let's buy them lunch to make sure we get off on the right foot with the new clients.

• I wanted to get off on the right foot on my first day, so I arrived fifteen minutes early.

  I wanted to get off on the right foot on my first day, so I arrived fifteen minutes early.

• A clear onboarding process helps new hires get off on the right foot.

  A clear onboarding process helps new hires get off on the right foot.

• We had some initial misunderstandings, but we managed to get off on the right foot after a quick call.

  We had some initial misunderstandings, but we managed to get off on the right foot after a quick call.

• To get off on the right foot with your manager, ask for clear expectations during your first week.

  To get off on the right foot with your manager, ask for clear expectations during your first week.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We started on the right foot with the new project.

  ✓ We got off on the right foot with the new project.

  The standard idiomatic verb used here is 'get off', not 'start'.

• ✗ I hope we get off with the right foot.

  ✓ I hope we get off on the right foot.

  The correct preposition to use before 'the right foot' is 'on', not 'with'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It's important to ___ with a new client by responding to their emails promptly.

  💡 start the relationship positively

  Show answer

  get off on the right foot

• We didn't exactly ___, but we've built a great working relationship since then.

  💡 start in a positive way

  Show answer

  get off on the right foot