Rate this phrase:0.0 / 0 votes

if the shoe fits

More common version of the original "If the shoe fits, wear it"; If it has all of the characteristics of a thing, it probably is that thing.

Etymology:

  • This expression originates from the famous old expression in 18th century “If the cap fits, put it on”. The ‘cap’ in the expression was taken as a dunce cap (indicating the wearer is stupid), later the “cap” was changed to slipper from the popularity of famous tale of Cinderella. In 19th century, a playwright changed the expression as “If slipper fits, wear it”. Later ‘slipper’ was replaced with “shoe” that clearly refers to put on a shoe that fits you suggesting admitting that what you were accused of is true.
34 Views

"Everyone keeps calling me a bully!" "Well, if the shoe fits...".

Submitted on September 01, 2009

Modified by TriplePurple on March 21, 2024

Translation

Find a translation for the if the shoe fits phrase in other languages:

als de schoen past

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to if the shoe fits

How to pronounce this phrase?

Discuss this if the shoe fits phrase with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this if the shoe fits definition to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "if the shoe fits." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/if-the-shoe-fits_4616>.

    We need you!

    Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a phrases master?

    »
    Love at first _____.
    A look
    B kiss
    C glance
    D sight