2025-06-24 Step into the shoes – The English We Speak

Introduction

This is an expression about responsibility. Learn how to use it here with Phil and Feifei.

Transcript

Feifei 
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I’m Feifei.

Phil
And I’m Phil. I hear congratulations are in order. You got a promotion!

Feifei
I did! The boss is retiring, so I get to step into his shoes.

Phil
Now, before I ask you “but will they fit?” or “why do you want his shoes?” – it doesn’t mean that, does it?

Feifei
No, no, of course not! We’ll learn that expression in this programme – ‘step into the shoes’ of someone. It means to take on someone’s role and their responsibilities. 

Phil
It’s often connected with the idea of readiness. If you’re ready to step into those shoes, then it means that you have the right preparation to take on that responsibility.

Feifei
Yes. You’ll also often hear it used when we want to say that someone will be hard to replace. For example, ‘it’s going be difficult to find someone who can step into the boss’s shoes’.

Phil
Well, before you step into the boss’s shoes, let’s hear some other people using this expression .

Examples
The team’s captain was injured so a young academy player stepped into his shoes.

My mum always hosts Christmas dinner but she’s decided she doesn’t want to this year so I’m going to step into her shoes and do it myself.

One of my colleagues had a baby so I stepped into her shoes and did her job while she was away.

Feifei
We’ve been learning the expression ‘step into someone’s shoes’ to mean ‘take on responsibilities of someone’.

Phil
There’s another shoe expression that sounds a bit similar but has a different meaning, so make sure you don’t get confused. If you ‘put yourself in someone else’s shoes’, it means you try to see something from their perspective.

Feifei
Now, if you’re planning to step into someone’s shoes, improving your English can help you get ready. Make sure you’re here next time, to learn a new English expression!

Phil
Bye!

Feifei
Bye bye!