hold (someone) in good stead
Especially of a talent, ability, or experience, to prove particularly useful or beneficial to someone in the future. Janet is hoping her internship working in IT will hold her in good stead when she looks for a job after college. Prior experience in customer service will hold any applicant in high stead with management. A degree from an Ivy League school will hold you in good stead, no matter what you choose to do in life.
in (someone's or something's) place
1. Literally, in someone's or something's physical location. Hey, you're in my place! You know I always sit here! You can't put the television in the sofa's place—it messes up the whole décor of the room! What are you doing in my place? You're not even on stage yet in this scene!
2. Instead of someone or something else; as a substitute for someone or something. Janet is really sick, so I'm going to lead the meeting in her place. After our dog died, my parents got me a pet hamster in its place. I know you're still reeling from your break-up, but instead of just seeing someone in Jack's place, why not take some time to grieve what you two had?
in (someone's or something's) stead
As the representative of someone or something; in place of someone or something. (Typically used in slightly more formal language.) The boss isn't here at the moment, but I'd be happy to sign for the package in her stead. My horse was stolen, so I am forced to ride this donkey in its stead. Janet is really sick, so I'm going to lead the meeting in her stead.
stand (one) in good stead
Especially of a talent, ability, or experience, to prove particularly useful or beneficial to one in the future. Janet is hoping her internship working in IT will stand her in good stead when she looks for a job after college.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
in someone's shoes
Also,
in someone else's shoes;
in someone's place or stead . Acting for another person or experiencing something as another person might; in another's position or situation. For example,
If you were in my shoes, would you ask the new secretary for a date? or
In your shoes I wouldn't accept the offer, or
Can you go to the theater in my place? or
He was speaking in her stead. The idioms alluding to
shoes, with their image of stepping into someone's shoes, date from about 1700 and are generally used in a conditional clause beginning with
if. Stead, dating from the 1300s, and
place, from the 1500s, are used more loosely. Also see
fill someone's shoes;
put someone in his or her place;
take someone's place.
instead of
Also,
in lieu of;
in place of;
in someone's stead. In substitution for, rather than. For example,
She wore a dress instead of slacks, or
They had a soprano in lieu of a tenor, or
In place of soft drinks they served fruit juice, or
The chairman spoke in her stead.
Instead of dates from about 1200;
in lieu of, which borrows
lieu, meaning "place," from French, dates from the late 1200s;
in place of dates from the 1500s; and
in someone's stead from the 1200s. Also see under
in someone's shoes.
stand in good stead
Be extremely useful, as in That umbrella stood me in good stead on our trip; it rained every day. [c. 1300]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
in someone's shoes
COMMON If you talk about being in someone's shoes, you are describing how you would feel or act if you were in the same situation as them. Stop and think how you would feel if you were in his shoes. If I were in her shoes, I'd probably want an explanation. If you were in his shoes what would you do? Note: You can also say that you wouldn't like to be in someone's shoes, meaning that you would not like to be in the same situation as them. I wouldn't like to be in Bryce's shoes when Kathy finds out what he's done.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012