shoe leather
noun
leather used to make shoes
save shoe leather to avoid wearing out shoes, as by taking a bus rather than walking
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Examples from the Web for shoe leather
Contemporary Examples of shoe leather
Historical Examples of shoe leather
Don't call me that—you, the most despicable liar that ever walked in shoe-leather.
Sons and LoversDavid Herbert Lawrence
"They might as well have saved their shoe-leather," said Mrs. Morel.
Sons and LoversDavid Herbert Lawrence
To that end he ate the king's victuals and wore the king's shoe-leather.
The Press-Gang Afloat and AshoreJohn R. Hutchinson
“Such a saving of shoe-leather,” the good little soul argued.
Walter PieterseMultatuli
Mr. Howbridge is as fine a man as ever stepped in shoe-leather.
The Corner House Girls SnowboundGrace Brooks Hill