Get Back on Your Feet – Meaning and Examples
Have you ever lost your job, gone through a breakup, or faced a health setback—and slowly rebuilt your life? In English, you can say you’re getting back on your feet. This warm and hopeful idiom describes the process of recovering from a tough time and regaining stability, health, or independence.
What Does “Get Back on Your Feet” Mean?
“Get back on your feet” means to recover from a difficult situation—like financial trouble, illness, loss, or failure—and return to a stable, normal, or confident state. Think of it like stumbling and falling… then standing up again, steady and strong. It’s not about instant success—it’s about gradual recovery with effort and time.
When to Use It
Use “get back on your feet” in empathetic, encouraging, or reflective conversations:
• After financial hardship: “It took a year, but she finally got back on her feet.”
• During health or emotional recovery: “He’s getting back on his feet after surgery.”
• In stories of resilience: “They lost everything in the fire, but they’re getting back on their feet.”
It’s neutral—common in speaking, news, songs, and supportive chats. Avoid it for minor setbacks; it’s meant for real struggles with meaningful recovery.
Example Sentences
- After the layoff, it took him six months to get back on his feet.
- Don’t rush her—she’s still getting back on her feet after the divorce.
- With help from friends, they got back on their feet and opened a new café.
- I’m proud of how far you’ve come—you’re really back on your feet!
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “How’s your mom doing after the move?”
Jamie: “Better! She’s finally getting back on her feet in the new city.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t use “get back on your feet” for small, everyday problems (like forgetting your keys). It’s for significant setbacks. Also, the phrase is always “on your feet”—not “on feet” or “on the feet.” And while it’s often used literally for physical standing, the idiom is almost always figurative.
❌ Don’t say: “I got back on feet after spilling coffee.”
✅ Do say: “She’s working part-time while she gets back on her feet.”
✅ Do say: “It’s hard, but we’ll get back on our feet.”
Practice Tip
Next time you hear someone share a story of recovery—on a podcast, in a movie, or from a friend—listen for “getting back on their feet.” When talking about your own progress, say: “I’m finally getting back on my feet.” Using the phrase in real contexts of resilience builds natural, compassionate fluency.
Final Note
Now you can use “get back on your feet” to express recovery with hope and dignity—just like native speakers do. It’s a phrase full of grace, used when people rise after falling. Keep listening for it in songs, news, and heartfelt conversations. You’re not just learning English—you’re learning how people honor the journey back to stability. Keep going—you’ve got this!