step into dead men's shoes
step into dead men's shoes
To take over the position or role of someone who has died. Derived from the proverb, "It's ill waiting for dead men's shoes." With the economy as stagnant as it is, the only way to get a promotion these days is to step into dead men's shoes.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.