Phrase guide

if the shoe fits, wear it

proverb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

proverb

Meaning 2

If it works, there is not a problem using it. Often a response to being judged when using an incorrect tool.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: qui té cua de palla s'encén — idiomatic
  • Chinese: 對號入座 /对号入座 (duìhàorùzuò) — idiomatic
  • Czech: potrefená husa se ozvala — idiomatic
  • Dutch: wie de schoen past, trekke hem aan — idiomatic
  • Finnish: jos siltä näyttää — idiomatic
  • French: si le chapeau te fait, mets-le — idiomatic
  • German: wenn du dich angesprochen fühlst — idiomatic
  • Hungarian: akinek nem inge, ne vegye magára — idiomatic
  • Italian: chi ha orecchie per intendere intenda — idiomatic
  • Jamaican Creole: mi throw mi corn, mi neva call nuh fowl — idiomatic
  • Portuguese: se a carapuça serviu — idiomatic
  • Russian: на во́ре́ и ша́пка гори́т (na vóré i šápka gorít) — idiomatic
  • Spanish: el que se pica, ajos come — idiomatic
  • Spanish: al que le quepa el sayo — idiomatic
  • Spanish: al que le pique, que se rasque — idiomatic
  • Spanish: a el que le quede el saco, que se lo ponga — idiomatic
  • Spanish: quien se pica, ajos come — idiomatic