Alice: Congratulations on your new job! How is it so far?
Jason: I like it. It keeps me thinking on my feet.
Alice: Yeah, you’re right. A good salesman must be able to think on their feet.

오늘 본문에서 Jason이 영업사원으로 취직한 모양입니다. Alice가 Jason에게 “Congratulations on your new job! How is it so far?” 취직 축하해! 일은 어때?”라고 묻자, Jason은 “I like it. It keeps me thinking on my feet. 좋아. 항상 판단이 빨라야 해.”라고 합니다.

그러자 Alice도 “Yeah, you’re right. A good salesman must be able to think on their feet. 맞아. 좋은 영업사원은 스스로 빠른 판단을 내릴 수 있어야 해”라고 맞장구를 칩니다.

Now keep today's phrase ‘think on one’s feet’ in mind, and let's hear the conversation again.

Alice: Congratulations on your new job! How is it so far?
Jason: I like it. It keeps me thinking on my feet.
Alice: Yeah, you’re right. A good salesman must be able to think on their feet.

Today’s phrase is think on one’s feet. This expression is used when you are adjusting quickly to changes and making fast decisions. So if you think on your feet, you are able to think, reason and react quickly and well.

Think on one’s feet를 직역하면 ‘일어서서 생각하다’라는 말이 되는데요. 결정이나 반응이 빠르거나, 급하게 벌어지는 일도 잘 처리한다는 뜻으로 쓰입니다.

오늘 본문에서 Alice가 Jason에게 새 직장이 어떠냐고 묻자 Jason은 영업사원으로서 항상 판단이 빨라야 한다고 합니다. 영어로 “I like it. It keeps me thinking on my feet.”라고요.

이렇게 상황이 벌어지는 대로 즉각 결정과 대응을 잘 할 때 쓸 수 있는 표현이 바로 ‘think on one’s feet’입니다.

Now let me give you an example sentence using today’s phrase. “Samantha really thinks on her feet well.” 라는 문장은 “Samantha는 어떤 상황에도 잘 대처한다.”라는 뜻입니다.

Now that you know what today’s expression means, let’s listen to the conversation for the last time.

Alice: Congratulations on your new job! How is it so far?
Jason: I like it. It keeps me thinking on my feet.
Alice: Yeah, you’re right. A good salesman must be able to think on their feet.

Let’s review! If you think on one’s feet, you are able to think, reason and react quickly and well. THINK ON ONE’S FEET. THINK ON MY FEET. THINK ON YOUR FEET. Now try using this phrase on your own.