Shoehorn: meaning, definitions and examples
👟
shoehorn
[ ˈʃuːhɔːrn ]
footwear aid
A shoehorn is a tool designed to help put on shoes. It is typically made of plastic or metal and has a curved shape that allows the heel of the foot to slide easily into the shoe without damaging the shoe's structure or back.
Synonyms
shoe aid, shoe support.
Examples of usage
- I always use a shoehorn to put on my snug boots.
- The shoehorn made it so much easier to wear my new sneakers.
- Using a shoehorn can prolong the life of your shoes.
- He grabbed his shoehorn before slipping on his dress shoes for the event.
to force
To shoehorn means to force something into a space too small for it or to fit something tightly, often with difficulty. It can refer to literally squeezing an object into a confined area, or metaphorically applying to situations where a person or idea is forced into a context where it does not naturally belong.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She had to shoehorn all her belongings into the small car.
- They tried to shoehorn the new software into the outdated system.
- He felt like he was being shoehorned into a role that wasn't right for him.
Translations
Translations of the word "shoehorn" in other languages:
🇵🇹 calçador
🇮🇳 जूते डालने वाला
🇩🇪 Schuhanzieher
🇮🇩 alat untuk mengenakan sepatu
🇺🇦 шнурівка
🇵🇱 nóż do butów
🇯🇵 靴べら
🇫🇷 embauchoir
🇪🇸 calzador
🇹🇷 ayakkabı yardımcısı
🇰🇷 신발 끌개
🇸🇦 معين حذاء
🇨🇿 nazouvák
🇸🇰 nazúvač
🇨🇳 鞋拔子
🇸🇮 vlečnica za čevlje
🇮🇸 skóflur
🇰🇿 аяқ киюге арналған құрал
🇬🇪 საკიდი
🇦🇿 ayaqqabı çəkmə
🇲🇽 calzador
Etymology
The term 'shoehorn' dates back to the 15th century and is derived from its literal use as a tool designed to assist in slipping on shoes. The word could be split into 'shoe', which is of Old English origin 'sceo', and 'horn', which refers to the material used for creating the earliest versions of this tool, often made from animal horns. Over time, the shoehorn evolved in material and design but maintained its primary function. The term emerged as both a noun and a verb in the late 20th century, especially as 'to shoehorn' began to take on additional meanings in various contexts, including societal and technological applications where force or awkward fit was involved.