Go in feet first

Posted by Smokey Stover on January 14, 2010 at 04:12

In Reply to: Go in feet first posted by Andrew on January 11, 2010 at 12:02:

: Where does the saying "go in feet first" come from? I think this wording is correct and that it means to give something a go without thinking about it too much.

I haven't heard "go in feet first" used as you describe. I have heard "to jump in with both feet" used to mean to do something, or join in something, without reserve. I have heard "go in feet first" used to mean to jump into the water rather than to dive, that is, go in head first. "Feet first" can be used adverbially without any meaning except the literal one. It can also be used to describe how you leave a hospital, say, after an unsuccessful operation. Two friends talking about a third: "He's not going to leave here except feet first, is he?" That is, when he leaves he'll be a corpse.
SS