When The Shoe Is On The Other Foot

Tuesday - October 6, 2009

A phrase which has a meaning that is commonly understood by speakers of the language, but whose meaning is often different from the normal meaning of the words is called an idiom.
When teaching reading, this was one skill the students seemed to enjoy. They didn't realize they heard idioms being used every day, whether at school, home, or watching their favorite shows on television. The use of idioms is one way to express our thought even though it may be confusing to some who do not understand their meaning and why they are used!

As I taught the unit on idioms, the students soon became attach to one they thought of as their favorite. It was that favorite one they were given the opportunity to express using an illustration. They weren't given a grade for their artistic ability, but those who were artistically inclined really did shine on this part of the assignment. Hmm - maybe English is not all bad! :):)
One that seemed to be a favorite was "when the shoe is on the other foot." According to many of the "idiom" experts they say, "If the shoe is on the other foot, someone is experiencing what they used to make others experience, normally negative things." The students had to have two pictures - one was representing the literal meaning of the phrase, while the other drawing represented the actual meaning. I had some really great examples. Wish I had held on to some of them, but I passed them on to other Language Arts teachers to use as samples!

I don't usually watch the late night show mainly because I really don't like people making fun of or cutting others down just to get a laugh!!! They are making money off of someone else's hard times, stupidity, or in some case their handicaps. I'm at Mom's and didn't turn the television off soon enough when one of the late night shows came on with the host apologizing for his actions. He appeared to be sincere and stated that he had been blackmailed to keep his secret from going public. I had seen clips where this host had poked fun at others for having done the same thing. Now the shoe was definitely on his other foot and it's not near as funny!!!

We all have a different sense of humor, and their are some who have none! When things are cute with no one being hurt physically or emotionally and see the humor in what they did or said, then I will laugh with them - not at them. How many times during your life have you seen, heard, or been part of a negative experience towards someone else, and later down life's road the same thing has happened to you??? Hopefully none. I sincerely believe that humor does need to be a part of our life, but not at the expense of others.

So, I guess what I'd like to say is that remember what you say and do, because some day it may come right back and you will be the brunt of some one's jokes and laughter! Then will it be as funny?? I remember many times as a very young child that people - old and young - who made fun of Dad because he limped. This was very upsetting to me. Mom and Dad discovered what had upset me and told me that I had to learn to ignore remarks like that. It was hard to do (and still is), but we all have to learn to remember what God wants us to do!

Just in case you might like to look at some idioms, how they are used, and what they mean I have listed the URL to one of the idiom sites!

http://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/alphabetical-list.htm