Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

if the shoe fits, wear it en · X

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable.
    • "Do you mean to insult me by that?" he roared. "If the shoe fits, you can wear it." "I'll knock you down for the insult." 1901, Horatio Alger, chapter 18, in Young Captain Jack:
  2. (idiomatic) If it works, there is not a problem using it. Often a response to being judged when using an incorrect tool.

Relateds

it takes one to know one · if it works, it works

Synonyms

if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck · if the cap fits, wear it

Translations (17)

es al que le quepa el sayo (idiomatic) · ru на во́ре́ и ша́пка гори́т (idiomatic) · es a el que le quede el saco, que se lo ponga (idiomatic) · jam mi throw mi corn, mi neva call nuh fowl (idiomatic) · hu akinek nem inge, ne vegye magára (idiomatic) · nl wie de schoen past, trekke hem aan (idiomatic) · ca qui té cua de palla s'encén (idiomatic) · cs potrefená husa se ozvala (idiomatic) · pt se a carapuça serviu (idiomatic) · de wenn du dich angesprochen fühlst (idiomatic) · it chi ha orecchie per intendere intenda (idiomatic) · es el que se pica, ajos come (idiomatic) · es al que le pique, que se rasque (idiomatic) · zh 對號入座 /对号入座 (idiomatic) · fr si le chapeau te fait, mets-le (idiomatic) · es quien se pica, ajos come (idiomatic) · fi jos siltä näyttää (idiomatic)