Have two left feet
Meaning
To be very clumsy or awkward, especially when dancing or performing physical activities requiring coordination.
Origin
Imagine trying to dance when both your feet refuse to cooperate, moving in the same direction or tripping over each other. This vivid image of lacking the necessary opposing balance and coordination—as if one literally possessed two left feet—is the heart of this phrase. While the concept of 'left' often carries connotations of awkwardness or ill-omen from ancient linguistic roots, this particular idiom found its footing more broadly in the 20th century. As social dancing became increasingly popular, the stark reality for some, stumbling and bumbling across the dance floor, gave rise to this perfectly descriptive and often self-deprecating expression for profound clumsiness.
Examples
- Whenever we go to a party with dancing, John usually sits out because he claims to have two left feet.
- Trying to learn salsa has been a struggle for me; I feel like I constantly have two left feet.