Chapter Ship to Shoe of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

the father delivered the bride's shoe to the bridegroom, who touched her with it on the head to show his authority.
   In Turkey the bridegroom, after marriage, is chased by the guests, who either administer blows by way of adieux, or pelt him with slippers. (Thirty Years in the Harem, p. 330.)
   Another man's shoes. “To stand in another man's shoes.” To occupy the place or lay claim to the honours of another. Among the ancient Northmen, when a man adopted a son, the person adopted put on the shoes of the adopter. (Braylet : Graphic Illustrator; 1834.)
   In the tale of Reynard the Fox (fourteenth century), Master Reynard, having turned the tables on Sir Bruin the Bear, asked the queen to let him have the shoes of the disgraced minister; so Bruin's shoes were torn off and put upon Reynard, the new favourite.
   Another pair of shoes. Another matter.

“But how a world that notes his [the Prince of Wales's] daily doings- the everlasting round of weary fashion, the health-returnings, speeches, interviewing- can grudge him some relief, without compunction, them's quite another pair of shoes.”- Punch, 17th June, 1891.

   Dead men's shoes. Waiting or looking for dead men's shoes. Counting on some advantage to which you will succeed when the present possessor is dead.
    “A man without sandals” was a proverbial expression among the Jews for a prodigal, from the custom of giving one's sandals in confirmation of a bargain. (See Deut. xxv. 9, Ruth iv. 7.)
   Over shoes, over boots. In for a penny, in for a pound.

“Where true courage roots,
The proverb says, `once over shoes, o'er boots.' ”
Taylor's Workes, ii. 145 (1690).

   To die in one's shoes. To die on the scaffold.

“And there's Mr. Fuse, and Lieutenant Tregooze,
And there is Sir Carnaby Jenks, of the Blues,
All come to see a man die in his shoes.”
Barham.

   To shake in one's shoes. To be in a state of nervous terror.
   To step into another man's shoes. To take the office or position previously held by another.

“ `That will do, sir,' he thundered, `that will do. It is very evident now what would happen if you stepped into my shoes.”- Good Words, 1887.

   Waiting for my shoes. Hoping for my death. Amongst the ancient Jews the transfer of an inheritance was made by the new party pulling off the shoe of the possessor. (See Ruth iv. 7.)
   Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear (Matt. iii. 11). This means, “I am not worthy to be his humblest slave.” It was the business of a slave recently purchased to loose and carry his master's sandals. (Jahn: Archæologica Biblica.)