British Dictionary definitions for shoe leather

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Examples from the Web for shoe leather

Contemporary Examples

Malkin also likes to get out of her house and do shoe-leather reporting, albeit with ideological intent.
Michelle Malkin Has Feelings, Too
Lloyd Grove
September 22, 2009

Historical Examples

Don't call me that—you, the most despicable liar that ever walked in shoe-leather.
Sons and Lovers
David Herbert Lawrence
"They might as well have saved their shoe-leather," said Mrs. Morel.
Sons and Lovers
David Herbert Lawrence
To that end he ate the king's victuals and wore the king's shoe-leather.
The Press-Gang Afloat and Ashore
John R. Hutchinson
“Such a saving of shoe-leather,” the good little soul argued.
Walter Pieterse
Multatuli
Mr. Howbridge is as fine a man as ever stepped in shoe-leather.
The Corner House Girls Snowbound
Grace Brooks Hill

shoe leather

Examples from the Web for shoe leather

Contemporary Examples

Malkin also likes to get out of her house and do shoe-leather reporting, albeit with ideological intent.

Historical Examples

Don't call me that—you, the most despicable liar that ever walked in shoe-leather.

"They might as well have saved their shoe-leather," said Mrs. Morel.

To that end he ate the king's victuals and wore the king's shoe-leather.

“Such a saving of shoe-leather,” the good little soul argued.

Mr. Howbridge is as fine a man as ever stepped in shoe-leather.