fill someone's shoes
Take over competently
To fill someone's shoes is to take over their role or position, especially when they leave or die.
The phrase usually implies difficulty—the predecessor set a high standard: It won't be easy to fill her shoes.
Sometimes used with big: He left big shoes to fill.
- successorOne who replaces another
- next in linePositioned to succeed immediately
- fitProper or healthy
- emulateCopy with aspiration
- replacementWhat takes another's place
take over · step up · step · inheritor · follow in footsteps · adjust · stand-in · match · heritage · continuity · footsteps · pressure · proxy · designee · tradition · burden · weight · appointee
- clothing idiomsfit like a glove, dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, wear the pants, caught with pants down
capability to replace someone
fill someone's shoesfall short
Fail to reach standard
pale in comparison · come up short · flounder · disappoint · underwhelm
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