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Idiom: if the shoe fits, wear it



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Expression: Double Dutch | Sentence analysis (Passive voice)
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Idiom: if the shoe fits, wear it #1 (permalink) Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:09 am   Idiom: if the shoe fits, wear it		  
Hi,

I am not yet very clear about the idiom:

Quote:
if the shoe fits, wear it
Also, if the cap fits, wear it. If something applies to you, accept it, as in These problems are hard to solve, and most people would need help, so if the shoe fits, wear it! This expression originated as if the cap fits, which alluded to a fool's cap and dates from the early 1700s. Although this version has not died out entirely, shoe today is more common and probably gained currency through the Cinderella fairy tale, in which the prince sought her out by means of the slipper she lost at the ball.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

1. I couldn't make out how the idiom was applied in the italic example. Maybe it is my dubious comprehension for the idiom that makes me feel the causal relation of the two sentences looks dubious.

2. Should I consider the idiom as an implite one in actual use for the reason the underlined part has suggested?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Haihao
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Idiom: if the shoe fits, wear it #2 (permalink) Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:44 am   Idiom: if the shoe fits, wear it		  
.
1-- We are to assume that the person spoken to needed help but protested against needing it, I suppose.
2-- Yes, it is generally used in a derogatory way; this of course can be ameliorated by context, relative status, etc.
.
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Expression: Double Dutch | Sentence analysis (Passive voice)
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