be in someone’s shoes—be in smb.’s usually unfortunate situation:
- I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes when he finds out that you have deceived him.
Cf.: walk a mile in someone’s shoes—used to imply that one has to experience life from another person’s perspective to truly understand him:
- “You never really know a man till you walk a mile in his shoes,” says Atticus, who is defending an innocent black man.
fill someone’s shoes—successfully take over smb.’s responsibilities (usually with the implication that the person is going to be hard to replace):
- She’s very capable. I can’t think of anyone at this moment who can fill her shoes.
See also: put oneself in someone’s shoes / step into someone’s shoes.