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Glite Dictionary
soft-shoe dancing

soft-shoe dancing

6.6
A smooth, graceful tap dance done in shoes with soft soles
  • noun
  • /ˈsɔftˌʃu ˈdænsɪŋ/
  • US
translation icon : baile suave
  • The old movie featured a charming scene of soft-shoe dancing on a wooden stage.

Examples

  • Many vaudeville performers were known for their soft-shoe dancing routines.

  • He performed soft-shoe dancing with effortless grace at the school talent show.

  • She loves soft-shoe dancing!

  • Have you ever tried soft-shoe dancing?

  • He performed soft-shoe dancing with effortless grace at the school talent show.

  • Many vaudeville performers were known for their soft-shoe dancing routines.

  • The old movie featured a charming scene of soft-shoe dancing on a wooden stage.

Synonyms

soft-shoe
vssoft-shoe dancing
1 7.0

A style of dance with smooth, light steps done while wearing soft, quiet shoes

is the general name focusing on smooth and graceful movement rather than sound emphasis
soft-shoe shuffle
vssoft-shoe dancing
  • US
7.5

A smooth, gentle tap dance that uses soft-soled shoes

is a broader term covering smooth movement rather than specific gliding patterns

How Loud

tap dancing
5 3.0
soft-shoe dancing
  • US
6.6
ballet
240 3.3

Surface Forms

soft-shoe dancing singular
soft-shoe dancings plural

Morphology

soft-shoe + dancing

The phrase is fully compositional: 'soft-shoe' describes the kind of shoe (soft-soled) and 'dancing' is the activity, so the meaning 'dancing performed in soft/shoe-type footwear' is directly derivable from the parts. This descriptive compound pattern is transparent and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows 'soft' and 'shoe'.

Etymology

Soft-shoe dancing comes from old stage performers who wore shoes with soft soles instead of metal taps, so their steps were quiet and smooth. The words soft and shoe are literal: the soft shoes made no loud tapping, creating a gentle, flowing style, and that's why the term means 'smooth and graceful' dancing.