Literal Translation
To take one’s foot
Actual Meaning
To greatly enjoy oneself (especially sexually)
Etymology
Prendre son pied means to have a lot of fun, but this expression is not necessarily sexual in nature, even though it is often used in that context. However, its origins have nothing to do with any kind of acrobatic position, and everything to do with the famous unit of measurement: the foot, which is equivalent to approximately 33 cm.
In the days of piracy, once the riches had been plundered, it was time to share them out. Everyone wanted their share of the booty. And to divide it up, they began by distributing a small pile of gold the size of a foot to each person. Thus, the luckiest ones had taken their share, they had taken their foot.
In 1878, a similar expression was used on a daily basis: people would say ‘j’en ai mon pied’ (I’ve got my foot) to mean ‘I’ve got my share’. Here too, we find the idea of having had enough, of having had one’s fill. The foot is also often used in romantic vocabulary. For example, one must ‘find the right shoe’ before one can take it off.