shoe

Everyday

1. A shoe is something you wear on your foot, with a firm bottom called the sole. tree →
2. Shoes come in pairs: a pair is 2 shoes. tree →
3. A horseshoe is a curved piece of metal fixed to a horse's hoof. tree →

In the lessons

Maths: things counted, often in pairs; prices of shoes; shoe sizes. Everyday: put on your shoes, tie your shoelaces, school shoes, running shoes. Phrases: «in someone's shoes» means in their situation.

Examples

• A pair of shoes costs $30. tree →
• She has 6 pairs of shoes. tree →
• How many shoes are in 4 pairs? tree →
• The shop sold 18 shoes. tree →
• Take off your shoes at the door. tree →
• I can tie my shoelaces by myself. tree →
• The blacksmith put new shoes on the horse. tree →
• Try to put yourself in her shoes. tree →
• The Queen pulled off her shoes. tree →

Note

Countable: a shoe, shoes. A pair is 2 shoes; check whether shoes or pairs are counted. Trap: «6 pairs of shoes» is 12 shoes. «Shoe» rhymes with «two»; do not confuse it with «shoo» (go away!).

In Jewish tradition

Moses is told to take off his shoes at the burning bush. The shoe-loosing rite, chalitzah, frees a man from marrying his brother's widow. In Ruth, a kinsman draws off his shoe to seal giving up his right to redeem. The Gibeonites show worn shoes to prove a long journey, and in the Psalms God casts His shoe upon Edom, a sign of claiming it.

Interpretation. Priests served in the sanctuary barefoot, and the shoe-removal teaches that holy places need humility. The tradition reads the shoe in Ruth as the custom of confirming a transaction, and casting a shoe on Edom as a sign of mastery.

Examples

• And his name shall be called in Israel The house of him that had his shoe loosed. (Torah DEU.25.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou shouldest say: I have made Abram rich; (Torah GEN.14.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And He said: 'Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.' (Torah EXO.3.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And these our garments and our shoes are worn by reason of the very long journey.' (Prophets JOS.9.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• So the near kinsman said unto Boaz: 'Buy it for thyself.' And he drew off his shoe. (Writings RUT.4.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Moab is my washpot; upon Edom do I cast my shoe; Philistia, cry aloud because of me! (Writings PSA.60.10, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a shoe, shoes. A pair is 2 shoes; check whether shoes or pairs are counted. Trap: «6 pairs of shoes» is 12 shoes. «Shoe» rhymes with «two»; do not confuse it with «shoo» (go away!).