shoehorn

[ shoo-hawrn ]

noun

1. a shaped piece of horn, metal, or the like, inserted in the heel of a shoe to make it slip on more easily.

verb (used with object)

1. to force into a limited or tight space:

   Can you shoehorn four of us into the back seat of your car?

shoehorn

/ ˈʃuːˌhɔːn /

noun

1. a smooth curved implement of horn, metal, plastic, etc, inserted at the heel of a shoe to ease the foot into it

verb

1. tr to cram (people or things) into a very small space

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoehorn¹

First recorded in 1580–90; shoe + horn

Example Sentences

Even adults like to shoehorn their bottoms into a malleable rubber swing and take a ride down memory lane.

From The Daily Beast

It might difficult, however, to shoehorn Mourdock into the role of Tea Party wacko.

From The Daily Beast

She is likely to shoehorn her pain into lugubrious scenarios that are perfect for country-music videos.

From The Daily Beast

To dig up de profundis a shoehorn that you need is a more remarkable achievement than to unearth a new Pompeii.

From Project Gutenberg

He had a shaven cranium, and his tight scalp might have been slipped over the bony bosses of his head with a shoehorn.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you know that some mornings he has to get his hat on with a shoehorn.

From Project Gutenberg

He certainly has arrived at what a witty American friend of mine would call the "Shoehorn stage."

From Project Gutenberg

He cant find a shoehorn with which to get into his breeches.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• embed
• enter
• fill in
• imbed
• implant
• include
• inject
• introduce
• stick