Some people are into abs. Others have a thing for hands . And then there are the people who see a particularly nice pair of feet and think, Yeah, I'd hit that.

For people with foot fetishes, toes, arches, soles, and even a well-placed pair of heels can be major turn-ons. And while, yes, foot fetishes have become something of an internet punchline, they're actually among the most widely recognized fetishes out there.

Now, just like shoes, having a foot fetish isn’t one-size-fits-all (heh), and it can mean different things to different people. Some get turned on by the appearance of feet, while others enjoy foot massages , toe sucking, foot worship , or incorporating feet into sex. “They are just one of myriad ways that erotic desire and titillation is expressed,” explains Ruby Rare , intimacy expert at Feeld . “Foot fetishes are totally healthy!”

But why do people have foot fetishes in the first place?…