穿小鞋chuān xiǎo xiégive (sb) a hard (/tough)nut to crack; give sb tight shoes to wear; make life(/things) difficult (/hard) for sb by abusing one’s power; make it hot for sb
❍ 凡是善意提出批评意见的，言者无罪，不管你怎么尖锐，怎么痛骂一顿，没有罪，不受整，不给你小鞋穿。(《毛泽东选集》Ⅴ—451) Whoever criticises us in good faith is not blameworthy.However sharp his criticism or severe his censure,he is not to be blamed or punished or given tight shoes to wear. 穿小鞋chuan xiao xiegive sb.tight shoes to wear—deliberately put sb. into trouble 穿小鞋give sb tight shoes to wear;make things hard(or difficult)for sb;deliberately put sb to trouble |