1. noun A style of tap dance that uses soft-soled shoes, as opposed to ones with hard metal soles. This phrase can refer to an actual choreographed dance or to a shuffling movement that vaguely resembles it. Thank goodness my sister finally does the soft shoe now—I was so sick of listening to her bang around in her hard tap shoes! Once I realized the boss was on a call, I did a soft shoe back out of her office.

2. verb To perform such a dance or movement. Thank goodness my sister finally soft shoes now—I was so sick of listening to her bang around in her hard tap shoes! Once I realized the boss was on a call, I soft shoed back out of her office.

3. verb By extension, to do something carefully and skillfully. Once the boss made it clear that we were not going to accept the settlement, I soft shoed onto our alternatives.