Business English from All Ears English BE 464: With This English, You're a Shoo-in
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Sep 14, 2025 Discover how a simple idiom like 'schoo-in' can elevate your confidence in business conversations. The hosts explore its origins in horse racing and its evolution into a term for strong candidates. They emphasize the power of expressions of certainty in professional settings, highlighted through engaging anecdotes and role-plays around job interviews. Plus, enjoy light-hearted discussions, personal stories, and a tease of unexpected knowledge to come. It's a mix of fun and insights that boosts your English skills while making you feel more professional!
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Conference-Only Sneakers
- Michelle shares a personal habit of saving a special pair of white sneakers only for conferences.
- She avoids wearing them elsewhere to keep them clean and part of her "conference look."
Meaning And Origin Of Shoe-In
- The phrase "shoe-in" means an obvious or certain winner, originally tied to horse-racing schemes.
- Its shady origins involved fixing races but modern use usually means a likely candidate on merit.
Historical Shift In Connotation
- The term traces back to 1920s–1930s horse racing where outcomes were manipulated to ensure a winner.
- Over time the cheating connotation faded and the phrase now signals likelihood rather than fraud.