Definition

1. Noun:

   • Footwear: An external covering for the human foot, typically made of leather, plastic, or other materials, with a sole and heel.
   • Horseshoe: A U-shaped metal plate nailed to the underside of a horse's hoof to protect it.
   • Brake Component: A curved block or lining that presses against a drum or wheel to create friction and slow or stop motion.
   • Card Dealer's Box: A device used in some card games to hold the deck and allow cards to be dealt one at a time.
   • Protective Plate: A piece of metal or other hard material fixed to the bottom of an object, like a furniture leg, to protect it.

2. Verb:

   • To Fit with Shoes: To provide someone or something with a shoe or shoes.
   • To Put Shoes On: To place shoes on the feet of a person or animal.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She bought a new pair of leather shoes for the party.
  • The blacksmith fitted a new shoe on the horse.
  • The mechanic replaced the worn brake shoe.
  • The dealer used a shoe for the blackjack game.
  • The chair leg has a plastic shoe to prevent scratching the floor.

• Verb:

  • The cobbler will shoe the horse tomorrow.
  • It's important to shoe children properly for winter.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in someone's shoes": To be in another person's situation or position.

  • I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now; he has a very difficult decision to make.

• "To step into someone's shoes": To take over a role or position from someone else.

  • After the manager retired, his assistant stepped into his shoes.

• "The shoe is on the other foot": The situation is now reversed from what it was before.

  • He used to criticize others for being late, but now the shoe is on the other foot.

Variants and Related Words

• Shoeless (adj): Not wearing shoes; barefoot.

  • The shoeless child ran through the grass.

• Shoehorn (n): A device used to help slide a foot into a shoe.

  • He used a shoehorn to put on his tight dress shoes.

• Shoelace (n): A cord or string used to fasten a shoe.

  • He tied his shoelaces.

• Shoemaker (n): A person who makes or repairs shoes.

  • The shoemaker repaired the heel.

Synonyms

• Footwear (n): General term for coverings for the feet, including shoes, boots, and sandals.
• Boot (n): A type of shoe that covers the foot and ankle, and sometimes part of the leg.
• Oxford, Loafer, Sneaker (n): Specific types of shoes.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shoe away: This is not a standard phrasal verb. The verb "shoe" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions.

Related Idioms

• "If the shoe fits, wear it": If a description or criticism applies to you, you should accept it.

  • I didn't name anyone, but if the shoe fits, wear it.

• "Waiting for dead men's shoes": Waiting for someone to die in order to inherit their position or possessions.

  • He's not ambitious; he's just waiting for dead men's shoes.

• "That's a different pair of shoes" / "That's another pair of shoes": That is a completely different matter or situation.

  • Fixing the sink is one thing, but rewiring the house? That's a different pair of shoes.

• "To know where the shoe pinches": To understand where the real problem or difficulty in a situation lies.

  • As a single parent, she knows where the shoe pinches.

Noun

1. a restraint provided when the brake linings are moved hydraulically against the brake drum to retard the wheel's rotation
2. U-shaped plate nailed to underside of horse's hoof
3. (card games) a case from which playing cards are dealt one at a time
4. footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material

Verb

1. furnish with shoes
   • the children were well shoed