Expression Of The Day: Think On One’s Feet
Man Mistaken for Expert Thinks On His Feet
think on one’s feet: to make quick decisions or give answers in unexpected situations
In 2006, Guy Goma thought he was going to be interviewed for a job at BBC News. In a case of mistaken identity, he was put on a stage and interviewed as a tech expert on live TV.
BBC had confused him with a tech journalist named Guy Kewney. The interviewers started asking him questions about the future of downloading music online, something he knew nothing about. Thinking on his feet, Goma did his best to answer. After the mix-up was discovered, Goma did have his actual job interview but didn’t get the job.
Watch the video below to see Goma make some unqualified but surprisingly accurate predictions about the future of the internet.
Sample sentences
1. When the main speaker was sick, Sarah had to think on her feet and give the presentation herself.
2. Tom forgot his notes at home, so he had to think on his feet during the meeting.
3. When the chef realized he was missing a key ingredient, he thought on his feet and created a new dish that became the evening’s special.
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He showed up for a job interview and the BBC accidentally put him on live TV as an expert