ESL Podcast 205 - Shopping for Shoes
dress shoes - formal shoes worn with formal or business clothes
My brother asked me to help him pick out a pair of dress shoes to go with his new suit.
heel - the back part of a shoe under the ankle; the bottom back part of the foot
She stepped on some gum with the heel of her left shoe and had trouble getting it off.
brand - the name of the company that makes the things you find in stores
I've never heard of this brand of televisions. Do you recommend them?
sandal - a type of shoe made with straps so that the foot is easily seen
Summer is the perfect time of year to wear sandals.
boot - a type of shoe with a tall top so that part of your leg is covered
Make sure you wear your winter boots if you plan to be out in then snow all afternoon.
loafer - a type of shoe that is flat or has a low heel, with no shoelaces or buckles
He prefers wearing a loafer because they are easier to put on and to take off.
open toe - a type of shoe that doesn't cover the toes
People do not normally wear open toe shoes in the winter.
strap - a long, thin piece of material, such as leather or cloth
When she got on the crowded subway, she held on tightly to the strap of her bag so that no one would be able to steal it from her.
slip-on - any type of shoe without shoelaces or buckles that someone can put on simply by putting their foot into the shoe
Slip-ons for young kids are a good idea because many of them haven't learned how to tie shoelaces yet.
width - size of the foot when measured across, from side to side
She liked the shoes, but none of the widths it came in fit her correctly.
narrow - a thin space that is longer than it is wide
Those big trucks are having problems driving through the narrow streets of London.
wide - a large or big distance from side to side
The purpose for building this bridge is to make it possible for cars to cross that wide river between the two cities.
to fit - to be the right size and shape for something
She didn't buy the sweater because it wasn't a good fit.
tight - not enough room for something; too little space
The jacket looked like it was the right size, but when he tried it on, he thought it was too tight.
loose - too much room for something; too much space; not strongly fixed or attached onto something
Some of the book's pages are loose and keep falling out of the book.
to keep in mind that... - to remember; to think about; to consider
My wife decided to buy a large couch to replace a smaller one even though I told her to keep in mind that there may not be enough space in the house for it.
leather - the dried skin of an animal used to make clothes, shoes, bags, and other things
He's a vegetarian and he doesn't buy anything made of leather.
to stretch - to make wider, longer, or larger by pushing or pulling
I don't want to try on your sweater. I'm bigger than you are and I'll probably stretch it.
to ring (someone) up - when a salesperson adds up and records on a cash register the things you want to buy
You look like you're ready. I can ring you up over here.