lead foot
noun
plural lead feet
: a tendency to drive excessively fast
I'm not going to lie—I have a lead foot when it comes to driving. For some reason, when I'm out on the open road, I can't help but press a bit harder on the accelerator than I should. Just ask my car—she'll tell you.—
Caitlin Moran
Caitlin Moran… this is not your Aunt Bessie's Camry—unless your Aunt Bessie has a lead foot …—Mark Kennedy
Mark KennedyExamples of lead foot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas shed his left shoe and sock, put his lead foot right near the water and chopped down on his golf ball.
—Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
Think of pushing off with the back foot rather than overextending the lead foot.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024
Voelcker said regen braking is different on every EV and some vehicles may be better than others for those with a lead foot.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 14 May 2024
This press car has been driven with lead feet for the past few thousand miles.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
Despite the lead foot treatment, the average of 2.7 miles/kWh (23 kWh/100 km) matches the EPA efficiency estimate (expressed as 37 kWh/100 miles).
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
View Photos Our lead feet only averaged 19 mpg in the Bimmer, but our 75-mph highway average was an excellent 33 mpg.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 20 Mar. 2023
Our lead feet only averaged 19 mpg in the Bimmer, but our 75-mph highway average was an excellent 33 mpg.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 20 Mar. 2023
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Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 17 May 2025
Think of pushing off with the back foot rather than overextending the lead foot.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024
Voelcker said regen braking is different on every EV and some vehicles may be better than others for those with a lead foot.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 14 May 2024
This press car has been driven with lead feet for the past few thousand miles.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
Despite the lead foot treatment, the average of 2.7 miles/kWh (23 kWh/100 km) matches the EPA efficiency estimate (expressed as 37 kWh/100 miles).
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023
View Photos Our lead feet only averaged 19 mpg in the Bimmer, but our 75-mph highway average was an excellent 33 mpg.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 20 Mar. 2023
Our lead feet only averaged 19 mpg in the Bimmer, but our 75-mph highway average was an excellent 33 mpg.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 20 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Lead foot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20foot. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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