"if the shoe fits, wear it" meaning in English

See if the shoe fits, wear it in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Proverb

Head templates: {{head|en|proverb|head=if the shoe fits, wear it}} if the shoe fits, wear it
  1. (idiomatic) If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable. Tags: idiomatic Synonyms: if the cap fits, wear it [UK], if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck Related terms: it takes one to know one Translations (idiomatic): 對號入座 (Chinese), 对号入座 (duìhàorùzuò) (Chinese), potrefená husa se ozvala (Czech), wie de schoen past, trekke hem aan (Dutch), jos siltä näyttää (Finnish), si le chapeau te fait, mets-le (French), wenn du dich angesprochen fühlst (German), akinek nem inge, ne vegye magára (Hungarian), chi ha orecchie per intendere intenda (Italian), mi throw mi corn, mi neva call nuh fowl (Jamaican Creole), se a carapuça serviu (Portuguese), на во́ре́ и ша́пка гори́т (na vóré i šápka gorít) (english: the hat burns on the thief too) (Russian), el que se pica, ajos come (Spanish), al que le quepa el sayo (Spanish), al que le pique, que se rasque (Spanish), a el que le quede el saco, que se lo ponga (Spanish), quien se pica, ajos come (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-if_the_shoe_fits,_wear_it-en-proverb-hopporzc Categories (other): English proverbs Disambiguation of English proverbs: 70 30 Disambiguation of 'idiomatic': 57 43
  2. (idiomatic) If it works, there is not a problem using it. Often a response to being judged when using an incorrect tool. Tags: idiomatic
    Sense id: en-if_the_shoe_fits,_wear_it-en-proverb-q~h3HUhm Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English subordinate clauses, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 41 59 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 42 58 Disambiguation of English subordinate clauses: 41 59 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 45 55

Download JSON data for if the shoe fits, wear it meaning in English (4.7kB)

{
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "proverb",
        "head": "if the shoe fits, wear it"
      },
      "expansion": "if the shoe fits, wear it",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "proverb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "70 30",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English proverbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1901, Horatio Alger, chapter 18, in Young Captain Jack",
          "text": "\"Do you mean to insult me by that?\" he roared.\n\"If the shoe fits, you can wear it.\"\n\"I'll knock you down for the insult.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable."
      ],
      "id": "en-if_the_shoe_fits,_wear_it-en-proverb-hopporzc",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "84 16",
          "word": "it takes one to know one"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "79 21",
          "tags": [
            "UK"
          ],
          "word": "if the cap fits, wear it"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "79 21",
          "word": "if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "zh",
          "lang": "Chinese",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "對號入座"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "zh",
          "lang": "Chinese",
          "roman": "duìhàorùzuò",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "对号入座"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "potrefená husa se ozvala"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "wie de schoen past, trekke hem aan"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "jos siltä näyttää"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "si le chapeau te fait, mets-le"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "wenn du dich angesprochen fühlst"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "akinek nem inge, ne vegye magára"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "chi ha orecchie per intendere intenda"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "jam",
          "lang": "Jamaican Creole",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "mi throw mi corn, mi neva call nuh fowl"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "note": "not used in Polish",
          "sense": "idiomatic"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "se a carapuça serviu"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "ru",
          "english": "the hat burns on the thief too",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "na vóré i šápka gorít",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "на во́ре́ и ша́пка гори́т"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "el que se pica, ajos come"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "al que le quepa el sayo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "al que le pique, que se rasque"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "a el que le quede el saco, que se lo ponga"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "57 43",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "idiomatic",
          "word": "quien se pica, ajos come"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "41 59",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "42 58",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "41 59",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English subordinate clauses",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "45 55",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If it works, there is not a problem using it. Often a response to being judged when using an incorrect tool."
      ],
      "id": "en-if_the_shoe_fits,_wear_it-en-proverb-q~h3HUhm",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) If it works, there is not a problem using it. Often a response to being judged when using an incorrect tool."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "if the shoe fits, wear it"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English proverbs",
    "English subordinate clauses",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys"
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "proverb",
        "head": "if the shoe fits, wear it"
      },
      "expansion": "if the shoe fits, wear it",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "proverb",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "it takes one to know one"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1901, Horatio Alger, chapter 18, in Young Captain Jack",
          "text": "\"Do you mean to insult me by that?\" he roared.\n\"If the shoe fits, you can wear it.\"\n\"I'll knock you down for the insult.\"",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If it works, there is not a problem using it. Often a response to being judged when using an incorrect tool."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic) If it works, there is not a problem using it. Often a response to being judged when using an incorrect tool."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ],
      "word": "if the cap fits, wear it"
    },
    {
      "word": "if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "zh",
      "lang": "Chinese",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "對號入座"
    },
    {
      "code": "zh",
      "lang": "Chinese",
      "roman": "duìhàorùzuò",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "对号入座"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "potrefená husa se ozvala"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "wie de schoen past, trekke hem aan"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "jos siltä näyttää"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "si le chapeau te fait, mets-le"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "wenn du dich angesprochen fühlst"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "akinek nem inge, ne vegye magára"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "chi ha orecchie per intendere intenda"
    },
    {
      "code": "jam",
      "lang": "Jamaican Creole",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "mi throw mi corn, mi neva call nuh fowl"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "note": "not used in Polish",
      "sense": "idiomatic"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "se a carapuça serviu"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "english": "the hat burns on the thief too",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "na vóré i šápka gorít",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "на во́ре́ и ша́пка гори́т"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "el que se pica, ajos come"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "al que le quepa el sayo"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "al que le pique, que se rasque"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "a el que le quede el saco, que se lo ponga"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "idiomatic",
      "word": "quien se pica, ajos come"
    }
  ],
  "word": "if the shoe fits, wear it"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-01 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.