Origin of Phrases - S
Shoe in
Meaning: A sure winner.
Example: Some stocks that seem like a shoe in turn out to be more like worn out sandals.
Origin: The commonly used spelling of "shoe in" makes it seem as if it were rooted in the action of a shoehorn. In fact, the meaning comes from horse racing lingo: corrupt jockeys conspire and agree to hold back their mounts and to "shoo in," or urge forward, a slow horse on which they have bet. In such a phony contest, the shoo-in is the only horse in the race that is trying to win.