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Wipe Its Feet - Billiard Term Definition

Welcome to the billiard, pool, and snooker glossary of terms. This is the definition of Wipe Its Feet as it relates to cue sports. You can also view the entire billiard dictionary

Definition of Wipe Its Feet

Wipe Its Feet is a billiards slang term that is a part of Billiard Technique Terminology.

This is a term commonly used in the UK to refer to the metaphorical base, or feet, of an object ball that rattles in the jaws of a pocket before it finally drops in to the pocket. This term applies appropriately to shots that were intentional in that specific pocket, but not for shots that ricochet around the table and just happens to rattle in.

Wipe Its Feet - Usage

That was such a sloppy shot. Did you see how the ball wiped its feet on the edges of the pocket ?

Billiards - Wipe Its Feet

  • Title: Wipe Its Feet
  • Author: (Billiards Forum)
  • Published: 3/21/2007
  • Last Updated: 10/24/2007 9:50:16 AM
  • Last Updated By: billiardsforum

Wipe Its Feet Comments

  1. Joe ErfurtJoe Erfurt from Sheffield, England on 4/1/2015 5:49:21 AM

    The term "wiped its feet" is an ancient saying used in the North of England that signifies anything that has "nearly met its intended end to an action". So by that definition, this could apply to a snooker ball that has just about dropped into a pocket (not necessarily wobbled) or a football that has not quite crossed the line for instance. It could also be an auction lot that has not quite met its intended sale price.

    The saying is easy to assess if related to someone who is going home to their house where they have arrived at the doorstep and wiped their feet but have not entered. It makes more sense that Tim Wonnacott (of TV's "Bargain Hunt") comments about "washed or wiped its face" does it not?

    I first heard the term in the 1950s.

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