pad the hoof

present singular third person pads the hoof · participle present padding the hoof · participle past padded the hoof · past padded the hoof

1. archaicSynonym of beat the hoof (“walk; go on foot”).

   "If I knew I should not be padding the hoof," he said.

   1894, Stanley John Weyman, “I. The Fair at Fécamp”, in The Man in Black

   1 more example

   Many who had engaged and dressed for seats in the various conveyances, found themselves necessitated to pad the hoof in all their bravery; and ladies were obliged to walk, on that day, who never imagined they would have so vulgarized their sandaled legs and feet.

   1839, Henry Curling, Some Account of The Field of the Cloth of Gold of Eglintoun, page 21

   Synonyms: beat the hoof