Definition of "footsie" [footsie]

• Informal The act of flirting in which one secretly touches the feet or legs of another with one's own, as under a table. (noun)
• Play footsie with To flirt with, especially in secret. (idiom)
• Play footsie with To cooperate or curry favor with in a sly or devious way. (idiom)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "I'm not part of that blogworld; I don't play first-name footsie with all the lib faves; I'm not looking to belong to or redeem the Democratic Party."
• "She'd hold "them" feet to the fire if a wingnut tried to play 'footsie' with her!"
• "Suddenly, top Republicans were accusing Ritter of playing "footsie" with labor unions."