shoehorn

[shoo-hawrn]

noun

1. a shaped piece of horn, metal, or the like, inserted in the heel of a shoe to make it slip on more easily.

verb (used with object)

1. to force into a limited or tight space.

   Can you shoehorn four of us into the back seat of your car?

shoehorn

/ ˈʃuːˌhɔːn /

noun

1. a smooth curved implement of horn, metal, plastic, etc, inserted at the heel of a shoe to ease the foot into it

verb

1. (tr) to cram (people or things) into a very small space

Word History and Origins

Origin of shoehorn¹

First recorded in 1580–90; shoe + horn

Example Sentences

Once the designers abandon their dream of shoehorning functionality into humanoid appearance, the result may actually be useful — for humans.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We're cheating here by shoehorning two films into one entry, but the Wicked and Avatar sequels have a lot in common.

Read more on BBC

“We didn’t want to shoehorn the songs into the story,” he said, nodding in appreciation at Read.

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Probably — even if it did seem oddly shoehorned in the middle of the show.

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"There have been long-held fears that this latest supposedly showpiece tournament, shoehorned into an already over-crowded calendar after a gruelling season, would struggle to capture the public imagination," he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• embed 
• enter 
• fill in 
• imbed 
• implant 
• include 
• inject 
• introduce 
• stick