From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfootingfoot‧ing /ˈfʊtɪŋ/ noun 1 CONDITION/something THAT MUST BE DONE[singular] the conditions or arrangements on which something is basedput/place something on a ... footing He wanted to put their relationship on a permanent footing.a financial/commercial/legal etc footing The firm started the new year on a stronger financial footing.on an equal footing (with somebody/something)/on the same footing (as somebody/something) (=in the same state or condition as other people or things) The new law puts women on an equal legal footing with men. Many of the old polytechnics are now on the same footing as universities.a sound/firm/secure footing They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing. The whole country was on a war footing (=ready to go to war at any time).2 BALANCE[singular] a firm hold with your feet when you are standing on a dangerous surface Seb struggled to keep his footing on the slippery path.lose/miss your footing (=be unable to keep standing or balancing) The girl lost her footing and fell about 150 feet.3 [countable usually plural] the solid base of bricks, stone etc that is under a building to support it and fasten it to the ground SYN foundation
Examples from the Corpus
footing• The swing should be anchored in concrete footings at least 12 inches deep.• The substantial result is much the same on either footing.• If the supplier is on an equal footing with the buyer there will be no implied undertaking.• This has enabled domestic markets to compete on a much more equal footing.• Below the bend the water remained sufficiently shallow close to the bank for Trent to keep his footing.• Mental disease caused by drunkenness is in criminal law treated as on the same footing with insanity.• After pouring the footings, trowel the top so it is smooth and level.on a war footing• Faster growth usually generates higher inflation, which then puts the Fed on war footing, driving interest rates up.• The Works was now on a war footing.• The economy remained on a war footing during 1989 with between 30 and 40 percent of the budget being spent on defence.• The area was on a war footing and all was bustle and preparation, expecting the hourly arrival of the enemy.lose/miss your footing• Campese lost his footing and fell heavily during yesterday's training session at Swansea University.• Corbett lost his footing and went down, his flailing hands seeking something to grip.• Scottie loses his footing, falls, grasps a gutter, dangles in space, looks down, gets dizzy.• Apparently, he had cut it, then lost his footing on the slope as he attempted to run.• Thenwhen he was sixteen or so-his last year in high school-he seemed to lose his footing.• Weir missed his footing as they neared the door.• It was real windy up there and if you missed your footing you didn't get a second chance.• Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing.From Longman Business Dictionaryfootingfoot‧ing /ˈfʊtɪŋ/ noun1a sound/firm/solid footing good financial arrangements under which a business operatesHe has put the company on a sound financial footing.2on an equal footing/on the same footing if two people, companies etc deal with one another on an equal footing or on the same footing, they do so on the basis that neither side is more important or in a stronger position than the otherThe new guidelines are intended to put women on an equal footing with men.It is vital that all parties to takeovers proceed on an equal footing. 