Meaning: To ensure that someone stays alert, prepared, and ready to react or adapt, often by creating a sense of unpredictability or challenge.
Usage in Example Sentences:
- “The coach likes to change the training drills frequently to keep the players on their toes.”
- “Working in customer service keeps you on your toes since you never know what kind of issue will arise.”
- “His boss intentionally set tight deadlines to keep the team on their toes.”
Origin:
This idiom originates from physical activities, especially those requiring balance and readiness, like dance or sports. Being “on your toes” implies an active and alert stance, ready for action. Over time, it became a metaphor for mental and situational preparedness.
