get your feet wet
/ɡet jɔː fiːt wet/
to try something new for the first time, usually starting with a small, easy part
In the video
Peter has just joined the team, and the boss tells him to start small and get his feet wet. Peter takes it literally: he hops right into a bucket of water, SPLASH, and soaks the floor. The boss walks in and shouts, “Why are you standing in a bucket?!”
What it really means
The picture comes from going into water for the first time: you do not dive into the deep end, you stand in the shallow part and let your feet get wet until you are used to it.
At work or school, “get your feet wet” means trying something new for the first time, doing the easy parts first to gain experience before you take on harder ones. It sounds positive and encouraging.
When to use it
Use it when starting a new job, project, hobby or skill. Common patterns are “get your feet wet” and “get my feet wet with something”, as in “I’m getting my feet wet with coding.” It is common in speech and in work emails.
Examples
- Take a small task first to get your feet wet.
- I’m just getting my feet wet with video editing.
- New staff get their feet wet by helping on small projects.
Common mistake
✗ She has done this job for ten years, so she is getting her feet wet.
✓ She is new to this job, so she is getting her feet wet.
“Get your feet wet” is for someone new to something. It does not fit a person who has done the job for years.
Similar phrases
- dip your toe in the water try something carefully, a little at a time
- learn the ropes learn the basic way to do a job or task