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to vamp

to vamp

9.9
To replace the front part of a shoe with new leather
  • verb
  • /væmp/
  • Informal
translation icon : reponer la capellada
  • The cobbler offered to vamp my worn-out shoes with new leather fronts.

Examples

  • If you want to restore these boots, you'll need to vamp them rather than just clean them.

  • Some old-fashioned shoe styles are best preserved by vamping instead of replacing the whole shoe.

  • She decided to vamp her old shoes.

  • The cobbler vamped the heels of my boots.

  • To make my shoes look new again, I decided to vamp them with a stylish leather.

  • After years of wear, she took her favorite heels to the cobbler to have him vamp them.

  • He learned how to vamp old sneakers to give them a fresh and modern appearance.

Synonyms

to vamp up
vsto vamp
  • Informal
8.1

To make something more attractive by adding new parts

is limited to replacing the upper part of a shoe rather than general updates

Phrasal Verbs

to vamp up
  • Informal
8.1

To make something more attractive by adding new parts

to vamp up
  • Informal
8.7

To quickly make up a story or plan to explain something

Surface Forms

vamp infinitive
vamped past
vamped past participle
vamping present participle
vamps third person singular

Etymology

Vamp in shoemaking means to put a new vamp, or a new 'front', on a shoe, and the verb comes from that noun. So to vamp a shoe is to replace its front piece with new leather.