{"id":51206,"date":"2018-09-26T01:15:45","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T01:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/aee\/aee-1024-if-the-shoe-fits\/"},"modified":"2021-12-03T15:20:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-03T15:20:52","slug":"aee-1024-if-the-shoe-fits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allearsenglish.com\/aee-1024-if-the-shoe-fits\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use English Idioms: If the Shoe Fits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever heard somebody say \u201cif the shoe fits\u201d and wondered what that meant?<\/p>\n

Did you pick up on the fact that it doesn\u2019t seem like a positive comment in American English?<\/p>\n

There are phrases like this in English that may seem difficult to understand at first.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to show you what this phrase means and how you can use it in conversation in an appropriate and fitting way.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a question that ask about this very phrase since it can be a bit confusing.<\/p>\n

\n

Hey Lindsay,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks for all of your amazing work and effort you and Michelle put into things. You really improve my listening skills a lot, and I\u2019m kind of addicted to your podcast now! I  listened to nearly 200 episodes just in two months.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I have a question\u2013recently I heard an episode from a BBC podcast,  and they were talking about an idiom that I couldn\u2019t fully understand in the end. It was \u201cif the cap fits\u201d, and they\u2019ve said that it\u2019s used to tell when a criticism fits someone. I find it really hard to understand and to use. Can you make a suggestion or make it easier or clearer to understand? Could you perhaps give us some good examples? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks in advance,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Omar Mahmoud <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

\"All<\/a>Make sure you understand every word you hear on All Ears English.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bring your English to the advanced level with new vocabulary and natural expressions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get the transcripts from today\u2019s episode.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Click here to download them instantly.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Understanding Tricky Phrases Such As This<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are some phrases that don\u2019t necessarily make sense unless in context.<\/a><\/p>\n

You might not hear \u201cif the cap fits\u201d, but this is similar to another common phrase.<\/p>\n

Though it may not make sense logically, there is a reason behind it and way of using it.<\/p>\n

You will typically hear something like \u201cif the shoe fits, then wear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is a common phrase that expresses something that may not be nice or sound good, but it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n

Using This Phrase In Conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The words that you say may not be complimentary, but they may be true and therefore fit the person or the occasion.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a warm or positive phrase, but it gets the point across and is widely understood and used.<\/p>\n

An example may be something like this:<\/p>\n

A: \u201cOh wow, my teacher gave me an \u201cF\u201d because she said I didn\u2019t do my homework on time.\u201d<\/p>\n

B: \u201cWell if the shoe fits\u2013you probably deserved that grade if you didn\u2019t put in the work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Things To Keep In Mind With Such A Phrase<\/strong><\/p>\n

You may hear a phrase such as this used frequently in conversation.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Though you can use it and it makes for great practice, it can also be important to recognize a few things surrounding it.<\/p>\n

Be sure that you are aware of these things before you begin using it in your conversations.<\/p>\n