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A shoo-in is a heavily favored entry in horse racing, politics, or employment. It can create pressure for the favored candidate and discourage others from competing. The term comes from the verb to shoo, meaning to guide or manipulate. A shoo-in benefits from both internal and external factors and is often seen as a safe bet for success.
In horse racing, a heavily favored entry to win a dubious or rigged race is often called a shoo-in. A political candidate with no significant competition or a senior employee clearly qualified for a promotion might also be called a shoo-in for the new position. A shoo-in often holds such a major lead over the nearest competitor or such an impressive reputation in the field that results are all but inevitable.
This seemingly guaranteed result of an asymmetric contest is one reason why some overqualified contestants refuse to enter the contest. When a contestant in a sporting event or a candidate in a general election is seen as a shoo-in, you may no longer feel the need to put your all into it. A shoo-in often dominates the field to the point that the real competition is for second place or some other form of consolation prize.
Some sources misspelt the term as shoe-in, suggesting a different horse-racing or foot-racing origin. In fact, properly written shoo-in comes from the verb to shoo, which means to guide or manipulate something in a specific direction. A skilled jockey could chase his horse around other competitors on the track and easily win the race. Running a more experienced or powerful horse against an inexperienced field almost always guaranteed a “shoo-in,” and those in the know placed bets accordingly.
Being considered a shoo-in for a job promotion or an elected position is generally a good thing, but it can also create additional pressure for the favored candidate. A person considered a shoo-in cannot assume that a win is absolutely guaranteed, even in the face of minimal competition. An entry candidate benefits from strong public support and a proven track record of success, but also has an obligation to remain blameless until final results are available.
In general, a shoo-in benefits from both internal and external factors to enjoy its victory over the competition. Quite often a potential candidate is persuaded to enter a race due to their perceived status as a shoo-in, whether or not the claim turns out to be accurate. Many people like a safe bet or guaranteed success, and that’s exactly what a shoo-in candidate aspires to offer.
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