American English , like all languages , has countless colorful words and expressions . We call some slang . It is not always easy to explain the history of slang expressions . Some seem to develop out of nowhere . Some do not last very long or become dated very quickly . Other expressions , however , live on for years . We use them in our day-to-day lives , usually without knowing how they began . Today we look at one such word -- and one you may be wearing right now -- sneakers ! Sneakers are a type of comfortable shoe . We wear them for sports and when we have to walk a lot . Many children wear them to school . And some adults wear them to work , especially if they must walk to work or ride a bike . Some say that the word “sneaker ” is slang for a tennis shoe . Others say it comes from the old English verb “sneak ,” meaning to move silently and with speed . If you sneak up on someone and you are wearing sneakers they probably will not hear you . Well , unless your sneakers squeak . We all know squeaky sneakers stop silent sneaking . (Say that five times fast !) For many people , sneakers are not just for comfort -- they are also fashionable . These people choose the colors and styles very carefully to make a statement about their own personal style . And they may pay a lot of money for them ! So , sneakers can be more than a fashion statement . They can also be a sign of wealth . Some schools in the U.S . even have rules about what sneakers students can and cannot wear . This prevents students from wearing extremely costly sneakers and avoids “sneaker shaming .” This is when you make fun of someone because they are wearing less costly sneakers . To some people , sneakers are a form of art . In fact , there is a museum in the American city of Boston just for sneakers ! The Sneaker Museum celebrates the history of the sneaker and their cultural importance as works of art . But there are other words for these types of shoes . There are running shoes , cross-trainers and trainers . All of these fit under the same term : athletic shoes . Sometimes we just call our sneakers by their brand names -- our Chuck T's , Nikes or Adidas . If you have an old pair of shoes that you always wear you might call them your beaters . Now , sneakers may not be your choice of shoe . But you must admit that they are comfortable to wear . Well , if they fit correctly , that is . Maybe that is why we say , “If the shoe fits … wear it !” That is not why we say this . We use this expression in a very strange way . Here is what it means . If someone says something bad about you but it is true -- you have to accept it . You cannot deny it ! For example , a friend of yours is always late for everything . One day , he shows up to your apartment (late , of course ) and says , “Can you believe it !? My boss just fired me ! She says I am always late !” You could simply answer , “Well , if the shoe fits …” You do not even need to finish . Your friend will know exactly what you mean . He is always late and now must take responsibility . He must “wear the shoes ” of a person who is always late , so to speak . But do not be surprised if he leaves your apartment and never talks to you again . The expression “If the shoe fits , wear it ” is somewhat rude . So , it is not exactly a nice thing to say , especially if someone has just lost their job !