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A shoe horn is a tool used to guide feet into tight-fitting shoes without damaging the back of the shoe. It can be made of metal, plastic, bone, or ivory and is now used more for medical purposes or by the elderly. The name has also become a metaphor for creating additional space through force.
A shoe horn is a dressing aid used to help guide the feet into tight-fitting dress shoes, athletic shoes, or boots. It is made of a long, thin piece of metal, plastic, or other material, which sits firmly against the back of the shoe, called a counter in shoe terminology. The wearer’s heel slides against the smooth surface of the horn, allowing the foot to be placed in the shoe without damaging or deforming the counter. Some models feature an extended handle, while others have a short blade that curves into a handle.
In the days when formal footwear was the norm, a shoehorn was as common in the home as a hairbrush or umbrella. With advances in shoe design and a shift toward athletic shoes and boots for casual wear, they have become much less common. Many people who own one today are more likely to use it to prevent excessive bending after surgery or other medical situations. Putting on shoes can also become a challenge for the elderly, so health catalogs often promote this tool as a dressing aid alongside other reach extenders.
A shoe horn can be constructed from metals such as aluminum, brass, or stainless steel, with an epoxy coating. Plastic is also a common material, as is bone or ivory. Actually, any material that allows the wearer’s heel to slide easily downward can be used.
One end of the device has a rounded blade that curves to fit the inside of most shoes. The curved end is pressed against the back of the shoe, and the wearer’s heel slides along the concave side. The end of the horn often resembles the bill of a duck. There may be a handle attached to the blade that extends near the knee area of the user. The tip may be decorative, or it may be another bandage aid designed to hook clothing.
The name of this device has also become part of common parlance as a metaphor for creating additional space through force. A person might say that an emergency patient was “shocked” into the appointment book, or a last-minute addendum was “shocked” into pending legislation.
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