the shoe is on the other foot
2
7.5
- idiom
- Informal
:
la situación ha cambiado
- If the shoe were on the other foot and I challenged you, I wouldn't want to do it either.
Examples
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I'm glad these hounds are sniffing, and if the shoe were on the other foot, I sure hope Harry Reid would have his nose up some Repub butt.
Blog text (28) -
As for "the only family" - it doesn't apply when the shoe is on the other foot.
Blog text (28) -
Why, because the shoe is on the other foot for once?
Blog text (28) -
If the shoe were on the other foot, you would be screaming impeachment.
Blog text (28) -
Now that the shoe is on the other foot, he understands what I went through.
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If the shoe were on the other foot, would you still agree with that decision?
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When the shoe is on the other foot, the rules seem to change dramatically.
Synonyms
20
3.9
To change a situation so you get the advantage over someone who had it before
Surface Forms
Morphology
the + shoe + be + on + the + other + foot
The expression uses a simple spatial metaphor — 'shoe' + 'foot' + 'other' + 'on' — which gives a learner a clue that positions have been swapped, so some sense of reversal is inferable from the constituents. However, the specific pragmatic meaning (who is advantaged or disadvantaged) is idiomatic and relies on cultural/pragmatic interpretation rather than direct compositional logic, so it is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
The shoe is on the other foot paints a simple picture: imagine two people who swap places so each person's shoe is now on the other person's foot, showing the roles have changed. That's why it means 'the situation has reversed' and someone who had the advantage may now be at a disadvantage.