Phrases, Colloquialisms, and Proverbial Sayings—To win one's shoes (old tournament) = to vanquish one's adversary; to die in one's shoes (or boots) = to be hanged: see Ladder; to shoe the wild colt = to be initiated, 'to exact footing' (q.v.); also to shoe; to shoe all round = to provide hat-band, gloves, and scarf at a funeral; many shoeings being only partial (Grose); to make children's shoes = to look ridiculous; to lick one's shoes = to fawn on; to cringe; to make feet for children's shoes = to copulate: see Greens and Ride; in another's shoes = in his place; to put the shoe on the right foot = to lay blame (or praise) where justly due; to tread one's shoe straight = to do what is right and proper; to tread one's shoe awry = (1) to play fast and loose; and spec. (2) to play the whore; to shoe the goose = to undertake anything absurd or futile: cf. 'He that will meddle with all things may go shoe the goslins'; and (2) to get tipsy: to shoe the cobbler = to tap the ice quickly with the forefoot when sliding: see Cobbler's-knock; to wait for dead men's shoes (see Dead Men's Shoes); to throw an old shoe = 'to wish them Luck on their Business' (B. E.); 'the shoe pinches (of untoward circumstances or events); also 'no man knows where the shoe pinches but he who wears it' (B. E.); another pair of shoes = something quite different: Fr. une autre paire de manches; over shoes, over boots = 'in for a sheep, in for a lamb'; 'One shoe will not fit all feet' = 'People nor circumstances are not all alike'; 'He came in hosed and shod' = 'He was born to a good estate.'
[?] MS. Lincoln. A. 1. 17 f. 149. How that thir Knyghtis have wone thair schone.
1383. Chaucer, Caste Tales, 9426. I wot best, wher wringeth me my sho.
d.1529. Skelton, Colyn Clout. What hath lay men to do the gray gose for to sho.
c.1530. Parlament of Byrdes [Hazlitt, Early Pop. Poet., iii. 179]. Who wyll smatter what euery man doose, May go helpe to shoo the goose.
1546. Heywood, 46, sign. C. [Nares]. Now for good lucke cast an old shoe after me.
1573-9. Harvey, Letters [Camden Soc. 83 [Oliphant, New Eng., i. 591. Men know where the shoe pincheth; . . . substituted for Chaucer's wringeth].
1606. Ret. from Parnassus [Nares]. Linden may shortly throw an old shoe after us.
1609. Shakspeare, Tempest, iii. 2. How does thy honour. Let me lick thy shoe.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict. [Halliwell]. A woman to play false, enter a man more than she ought, or tread her shooe awry.
1613. Fletcher, Honest Man's Fort., v. 1. Captain, your shoes are old, pray put them off, And let one fling 'em after us.
1621. Jonson, Masque of Gypsies. Hard after an old shoe, I'll be merry.
1630. Taylor, Works, ii. 145. For where true courage roots, The proverb says, Once over shoes, o'er boots.
1633. Marmyon, Fine Compan. [Nares]. Well, mistresse . . . pray throw an old shoe after us.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, iv., xlv. [Bohn]. Whoever refused to do this should presently swing for it and die in his shoes.
1663. Stapylton, The Slighted Maid, 30. I'll throw Marc Antony's old shoe after you.
1663. Killigrew, Parson's Wedding [Dodsley, Old Plays (Reed), xi. 499]. Ay, with all my heart, there's an old shoe after you.
