Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
drop-the-other-shoe
idiom
/drɒp ðə ˈʌðər ʃuː/
Definition
To bring about an expected event, particularly a revelation of a second part of a scenario, often after a period of waiting.
Examples
- After weeks of speculation about the merger, we finally heard the announcement, and it felt like they had dropped the other shoe.
- Everyone was waiting for the CEO to drop the other shoe after the company’s recent performance issues.
Meaning
The phrase originates from the idea that if you hear one shoe drop, you expect to hear the other shoe drop as well—it refers to the inevitability of an outcome following suspense or buildup.
Synonyms
- wait for the other shoe to drop
- anticipate
- expect
