noun
shoehorn
SHOO-horn
Shoehorn (noun) means a smooth, curved tool used to help slide your heel into a shoe. Example: “She kept a long shoehorn by the front door.”
noun
1
A smooth, curved tool used to help slide your heel into a shoe.
"She kept a long shoehorn by the front door."
"I could not get the new boots on without a shoehorn."
"He slid the shoehorn behind his heel and stepped into the shoe."
verb
1
figurative To force something into a space or schedule that is too small or too full for it.
"They shoehorned three meetings into a single morning."
"We managed to shoehorn a fifth chair around the small table."
"The film shoehorns a love story into an otherwise serious plot."
How to use shoehorn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tool for easing a heel into a shoe, or to squeeze something into too little room.
When to use it
The verb is figurative and often suggests the fit is awkward or forced.
Memory tip
When using the verb, name the thing being squeezed and the space it goes into, as in shoehorn a visit into the week.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a long shoehorn
shoehorn something into
shoehorn in
shoehorned into a schedule
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She kept a long _____ by the front door.
Etymology
The word is a compound formed in English from shoe and horn.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What is a shoehorn used for?
A shoehorn is a smooth tool that helps you get your foot into a shoe. You put it behind your heel and slide the heel in after your toes.
What does it mean to shoehorn something in?
It means to force something into a space or schedule where it hardly fits. It can also mean including something awkwardly where it does not really belong.
Is shoehorn one word or two?
Shoehorn is the usual spelling, though shoe horn is also given as an alternative form. The verb is also sometimes written shoe-horn.
What is the meaning of shoehorn?
"shoehorn" (noun) means a smooth, curved tool used to help slide your heel into a shoe.
