white-shoe
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of white-shoe
First recorded in 1975–80; apparently from the white shoes popular as moderately formal wear among suburban men c1980
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Epstein emailed Brad Karp, the chairman of white-shoe law firm Paul Weiss, on October 6, 2017.
From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026
Kamala Harris’ spouse, a longtime entertainment, media and intellectual property attorney in Los Angeles, joined the white-shoe law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher after the former vice president left the White House.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2025
Macfarlane notes that HHMI’s lead lawyer is Chong Park, a partner at the white-shoe firm Ropes & Gray known for working on large, complex cases.
From Science Magazine • Dec. 4, 2023
Gorman "guided a traditional, white-shoe investment bank through a transformative and successful evolution into a diversified, dynamic wealth management institution," said Ana Arsov, managing director at Moody's.
From Reuters • Oct. 26, 2023
“Phooey, I say, on all white-shoe college boys who edit their campus literary magazines. Give me an honest con man any day.”
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
