Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SHOEHORN
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connect this word to others:
Think of Cinderella's stepsister trying to cram her size 11 foot into that size 5 glass slipper.
Whether or not she's using a literal shoehorn--see the image below--she's shoehorning her foot into the slipper, and shoehorning herself into the prince's life. Or trying to. Much like your casual acquaintance at work who keeps shoehorning in references to the essential oils she sells.
Speaking of stomping things in, see if you can recall a verb that means "to force an idea onto someone's mind, usually by teaching it over and over in a harsh or serious way"--or, more literally, "to tread down with the heel of the foot." It's "in____ate."
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
make your point with...
"SHOEHORN"
(Thanks for the picture, Wikipedia!)
Like it sounds, a shoehorn is a tool (originally made from an animal's horn) that you use to help slide your foot into your shoe.
Now, imagine you're trying on a shoe that fits terribly, and the only way you can even fit your foot inside it is by shoving it in with the shoehorn.
To shoehorn something, or to shoehorn something in, or to shoehorn something into something else, is to shove it in awkwardly, even though it doesn't fit properly.
Pronunciation:
SHOO horn
Part of speech:
Verb, the transitive kind: "they shoehorned this product onto consumers," "he shoehorned himself into the conversation."
Other forms:
shoehorned, shoehorning
How to use it:
"Shoehorn" provides a visual metaphor that can range from funny to highly critical.
We might be literal and talk about shoehorning objects or even people into places: "an overcrowded school with children shoehorned into tiny portables," "an overstuffed suitcase tilting precariously forward, the toiletries shoehorned into the outer zipper pocket."
And often we're abstract, talking about shoehorning data, facts, images, ideas, references, information, actions, activities, events, and other bits and pieces into larger places where (and times and occasions when) they don't belong.
examples:
"Low-fare passengers shoehorned into the back of the plane may not even be covering what it costs to transport them."
— Scott McCartney, Wall Street Journal, 14 February 2018
"And so the show goes, stumbling from one scene to the next with no evidence of coherence, shoehorning songs that advance neither plot nor characterization. We meet, for instance, a hellish boogeyman named Carl (Zak Risinger), who complains that his hands are too big in a song titled 'When Your Hands Are Too Big.'"
— Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 16 December 2018
has this page helped you understand "shoehorn"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "shoehorn" without saying "interject" or "shove in."
try it out:
Fill in the blank: "No one even bothered to shoehorn in (some key element that was left out)."
Example: "The book is a rambling account of the pastel ponies and their prancing preparations for a royal wedding. No one even bothered to shoehorn in a conflict to resolve. But it did come with a bracelet. Rave reviews from my daughter."
before you review, play:
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
Our game this month is "Inspired by, but in no way associated with, the game show Chain Reaction."
In each issue, try filling in both puzzles—the easier one and the tougher one—by supplying the terms to complete the chains.
From the previous issue:
An easier puzzle:
Maternity
L____
En masse
A tougher puzzle:
Deleterious
E_____
C_____
Sides
Answers:
Maternity
Leave
En masse
Deleterious
Effect
Change
Sides
Give these a try today:
An easier puzzle:
Fruitless
S_____
Party
A tougher puzzle:
Idyllic
L___
E_________
Bias
review this word:
1. A near opposite of SHOEHORN is
A. TRAIL.
B. DOVETAIL.
C. PAPER OVER.
2. He _____ first, then shoehorned the _____ data into them.
A. drew his conclusions .. existing
B. organized his tables .. appropriate
C. updated his computers .. customers'
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
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Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Think of Cinderella's stepsister trying to cram her size 11 foot into that size 5 glass slipper.
"SHOEHORN"
(Thanks for the picture, Wikipedia!)
"Low-fare passengers shoehorned into the back of the plane may not even be covering what it costs to transport them."
Explain the meaning of "shoehorn" without saying "interject" or "shove in."
Fill in the blank: "No one even bothered to shoehorn in (some key element that was left out)."
Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first.
1. A near opposite of SHOEHORN is
|