I don’t envy your shoes
Posted: July 17, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized 3 CommentsThis was heard in a conversation and uttered by someone from Guatemala. While there may be a translation issue here, it is nevertheless a nice mashup of “envy someone for someone or something” (regard one with jealousy for something one has) and “in someone else’s shoes” (to experience something from someone else’s point of view). But then again, maybe he just didn’t like the person’s shoes. A big thanks to Buzz McClain for hearing this one and sending it in!
Malaphors 
[like] Pietrucha, Martin T reacted to your message:
How is this different from “I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes”? Sounds more like a translation problem than a malaphor.
You may be right, but the fact that the speaker added “envy” to the sentence indicates he was thinking of the phrase “envy someone for something” which is a bonafide idiom: see The Free Dictionary – envy (one) for (something)
To feel jealousy toward someone for some reason.I envy my sister for her unflappable nature—criticism or judgment just does not bother her at all.Boy, do I envy you for your gorgeous red hair!I’ve always envied Lisa for her self-confidence. She never seems to be weighed down by insecurities, like I so often am.