in someone's shoes

Idioms  

1. Also, in someone else's shoes;. Acting for another person or experiencing something as another person might; in another's position or situation. For example, If you were in my shoes, would you ask the new secretary for a date? or In your shoes I wouldn't accept the offer, or Can you go to the theater in my place? or He was speaking in her stead. The idioms alluding to shoes, with their image of stepping into someone's shoes, date from about 1700 and are generally used in a conditional clause beginning with if. Stead, dating from the 1300s, and place, from the 1500s, are used more loosely. Also see fill someone's shoes; put someone in his or her place; take someone's place.

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Example Sentences

"Until you walk a mile in someone’s shoes nobody should judge or make negative comments about anyone and nobody should have to live under constant attack and fear for their safety. In my heart of hearts I know Meg has not changed and is the still the sweet person I worked with for those 5 years. I wish her my very best and thank her for the many great memories I am fortunate and blessed to have had," he concluded.

From Fox News

“It’s kind of like the saying ‘walk a mile in someone’s shoes,’ but I want people to be able to walk a mile in someone’s shoes, even if they have holes in them, even if they’re dirty, even if those shoes are worn out,” he said.

From Washington Times

"You need to walk a mile in someone's shoes before you judge on that. So certainly in this situation, he did the right thing for him," he said.

From Fox News

Perhaps until you've been in someone's shoes and understand what arises during a health challenge, it's impossible to think beyond the goal of achieving restored health.

From Salon

“Until you walk a mile in someone’s shoes, you can’t know,” Mr. McCullough said.

From New York Times