To shoehorn something means to force it into a tight space where it doesn't quite fit. The word comes from an actual tool: a curved piece of metal or plastic that helps you slide your heel into a tight shoe without crushing the back.

When you shoehorn something, you're making it fit even though it requires effort and doesn't belong naturally. A teacher might shoehorn an extra lesson into an already packed day. A writer could shoehorn a joke into a serious story where it feels awkward and out of place. If you're trying to squeeze one more book onto a completely full shelf, you're shoehorning it in.

The word suggests that the fit isn't quite right. You can shoehorn six people into a car meant for five, but the ride won't be comfortable. You might shoehorn yourself into jeans that have gotten too small, but you'll probably feel squeezed all day.

Sometimes shoehorning works in a pinch, like fitting an extra sleeping bag into an overstuffed camping backpack. Other times, it creates problems, like when someone tries to shoehorn a complex idea into a simple explanation and ends up confusing everyone. The word captures that feeling of forcing something to work when it really needs more room.

As a noun, a shoehorn is the tool you use to help your foot slide into a tight shoe.