high-heeled shoes with nothing round the heel

English translation: mule

07:08 Nov 17, 2008

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Textiles / Clothing / Fashion / Footwear

English term or phrase: high-heeled shoes with nothing round the heel

Greetings

In “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian” by Marina Lewycka (unfortunately I do not have a copy to hand), Valentina, a mail-order bride from the Ukraine, wears a kind of high-heeled shoes with nothing round the heel, so that they are a bit like some kinds of slippers. Unfortunately I forget the exact name.

The word may possibly be a word normally used for an animal, like “badgers” or “cheetahs” or “leopards”... But it is a standard word, not just something made up for the book.

Many thanks

Simon

SeiTT KudoZ activity Questions: 3738 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (9 closed without grading) Answers: 1 United Kingdom
Local time: 19:12

Selected answer:mule

Explanation:
It's not exactly a leopard or cheetah, or even a badger . . . but it is an open-toed slipper. I suppose it could be high heeled also.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-11-17 09:39:56 GMT)
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Ah. Raise my confidence level to 5.
Googling reveals:
"Though Valentina comes trailing a teenage son and a recently obtained Ukrainian divorce, the marriage goes ahead, and she begins to walk, lazily and insolently, all over Nikolai and his carefully structured Ukrainian-British family in her high-heeled peep-toe mules."
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/12/Floridian/_Tractors__has_a...

Selected response from:

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 20:12

Grading comment

many thanks perfect
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

1 +5

mule

Suzan Hamer

3 +1

open-heeled stilettos

Marie Scarano

Heelless shoes

JohnGBell

Answers

48 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

open-heeled stilettos

Explanation:
I have sometimes seen these as mules, whereas sabot give me the impression of low-heeled sandals.
I might opt for open-heeled stilettos or something of the sort.

Marie Scarano
Italy
Local time: 20:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

59 mins confidence:

Heelless shoes

Explanation:
Try a google on "Antonio Berardi shoes"

JohnGBell
Local time: 21:12
Native speaker of:

English

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

mule

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 20:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Grading comment

many thanks perfect

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high-heeled shoes with nothing round the heel

English translation: mule

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high-heeled shoes with nothing round the heel

English translation: mule

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