I'm not sure what people think this expression has to do with footwear but it doesn't.
If someone is the obvious choice as the winner they are a "shoo-in" not a "shoe-in"
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Blog posts : "idioms"
shoo-in vs shoe-in
getting down to brass tacks
The most popular etymology for this term actually deals with the purchase of fabric.
A customer buying fabric would take the entire bolt (not unlike today) to the counter to have it measured out by the yard. While we now have rulers at fabric counters then they used brass tacks set into the counte…
Twiddling your Thumbs
Since this is likely to be the only time you ever use the word "twiddling" or "twiddle" people aren't really sure how to say it. Instead you hear "twittling" and I even heard someone today say, "twittering". But the actual word is "twiddling".
You twiddle your thumbs when you are bored.
There isn'…
Flash in the Pan
This term comes from the day of flintlock firearms. A gun was discharged using a small charge of gunpowder in the primming pan. It didn't always ignite the main charge and instead only produced a bit of smoke and a noise in the primming pan, hence the flash in the pan.
Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
Most people think this is in reference to the Trojan horse but most research shows this isn't the case.
Most likely this is recalling the need to look at a horse's teeth in order to determine it's age before purchasing it.
If the horse was a gift it would be the same as trying to figure out what it…
Pay Under the Table
There are two common stories behind the use of the phrase "getting paid under the table". It is impossible to know for certain which one is the actual originator so I will include both.
This first is; before paper money gold itself was used as currency. Most people would have gold coins, bars and…
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