Antonyms for on toes
| Grammar : Adj, adv |
| Spell : toh |
| Phonetic Transcription : toÊŠ |
- absent-minded
- asleep
- careless
- disregarding
- drowsy
- dull
- foolish
- heedless
- ignorant
- impulsive
- inattentive
- incautious
- inconsiderate
- indifferent
- indiscreet
- lazy
- lethargic
- neglectful
- neglecting
- negligent
- quiet
- rash
- slow
- sluggish
- stupid
- thoughtless
- unafraid
- unattentive
- unaware
- uncareful
- undiscriminating
- uneducated
- uninformed
- unintelligent
- unmindful
- unobservant
- unwatchful
- unworried
- weary
Definition of on toes
Origin :- Old English ta (plural tan), contraction of *tahe (Mercian tahæ), from Proto-Germanic *taikhwo (cf. Old Norse ta, Old Frisian tane, Middle Dutch te, Dutch teen, Old High German zecha, German Zehe "toe"), probably originally meaning "fingers" as well (many PIE languages still use one word to mean both fingers and toes). The Old English plural tan survived in southwestern England to 14c. To be on (one's) toes "alert, eager" is recorded from 1921.
- As in mindful : adj attentive, aware
- As in observant : adj alert, watchful
- As in on the ball : adj alert
- As in attentive : adj concentrating
- As in vigilant : adj careful, watchful
- As in watchful : adj on the lookout
- As in wide-awake : adj fully awake
- As in : adj wary
- As in open-eyed : adj alert
- As in alert : adj attentive, lively
- As in on guard : adv feeling wary
- As in on the ball : adv paying attention
Synonyms for on toes
- active
- acute
- advertent
- agog
- alert
- alive
- alive to
- all ears
- anxious
- apprehensive
- attentive
- au courant
- awake
- aware
- be up on
- bright
- bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
- cagey
- careful
- cautious
- chary
- circumspect
- clear-sighted
- clever
- cognizant
- comprehending
- conscientious
- conscious
- considering
- contemplating
- conversant
- correct
- deducing
- defensive
- detecting
- discerning
- discovering
- discriminating
- eager
- eagle-eyed
- enrapt
- enthralled
- fascinated
- fast on the draw
- glued
- good hands
- guarded
- hanging on every word
- heads up
- heedful
- hip
- hooked
- immersed
- in the know
- intelligent
- intent
- intentive
- interested
- jazzed
- keen
- know all the answers
- know ins and outs
- knowing
- knowledgeable
- listening
- lively
- looking for
- looking to
- mindful
- not missing a trick
- obedient
- observant
- observative
- observing
- on alert
- on guard
- on one's guard
- on one's toes
- on the ball
- on the job
- on the lookout
- on the qui vive
- on the stick
- on the watch
- on to
- on toes
- on top of
- open-eyed
- penetrating
- perceptive
- plugged in
- preoccupied
- prepared
- psyched up
- questioning
- quick
- ready
- regardful
- respectful
- searching
- see after
- see to
- sensible
- sensitive
- sharp
- sharp-eyed
- sleepless
- solicitous
- spirited
- studious
- surveying
- suspicious
- switched on
- thoughtful
- tuned in
- understanding
- unsleeping
- upon one's guard
- vigilant
- vital
- waiting on
- wakeful
- wary
- watchful
- wide-awake
- wide-eyed
- wired
- wise
- with eyes peeled
- with it
- with weather eye open
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019