# put the same shoe on every foot

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/put-the-same-shoe-on-every-foot
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To attempt to apply a single solution to different problems.

## Examples

- You cannot put the same shoe on every foot when solving these problems.
- The manager failed because he tried to put the same shoe on every foot instead of adapting to each employee's unique needs.
- Policy makers often err when they attempt to put the same shoe on every foot, ignoring the nuanced cultural and economic realities of diverse regions.

## Origin

Derived from the proverb you cannot put the same shoe on every foot, a caution against the uniform application of a single method to varied circumstances.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.