Clothe Idioms
air one`s dirty linen in public
- to discuss one`s private quarrels or problems in the presence of others
The man does not like his wife to air his dirty linen in public when they are with friends.
at the drop of a hat
- without waiting or planning, immediately, promptly
Our boss will stop working and help someone at the drop of a hat.
bet one`s boots
- to bet everything that one has
I will bet my boots that my friend will not have enough money to go to Greece this winter.
birthday suit
- complete nakedness
The little boy was running through the park in his birthday suit.
buckle down to (do something)
- to give one's complete attention or effort to do something
The teacher told the girl that she must buckle down and begin to work harder than before.
burn a hole in one`s pocket
- to stimulate someone to spend money quickly
My money is burning a hole in my pocket and I will probably spend it quickly.
burst at the seams
- to be too full or too crowded
The train station was bursting at the seams as everyone waited to leave for their holidays.
catch (someone) with their pants down
- to surprise someone in an embarrassing situation or doing something that they should not be doing
The sales manager was caught with his pants down when he was asked for the sales figures but did not have them.
come into fashion
- to become fashionable
Recently the mini-skirt has come into fashion again.
decked out in (something)
- to be dressed in fancy clothes
The actress was decked out in a beautiful silk dress at the ceremony.
die with one`s boots on
- to die while still active in one`s work or doing a job
The man worked hard all his life and died with his boots on when he had a heart attack and died in the factory.
dressed to kill
- to wear one`s finest clothes
The woman was dressed to kill when I saw her at the sales convention.
dressed to the nines/teeth
- to be dressed elegantly, to be dressed very well
The couple were dressed to the nines when they went to the opening of the new theater production.
dress up
- to wear one`s best clothes
I decided to dress up to go to dinner on Saturday night.
feather in one`s cap
- something to be proud of, an honor
Winning the speech contest was a feather in the boy's cap and the greatest honor that he has ever won.
fill (someone`s) shoes
- to take the place of another and do as well as he or she would
It will be difficult for the woman to fill the shoes of the previous supervisor.
fine-tooth/toothed comb
- great care, careful attention so as not to miss anything
We went over the room with a fine-tooth comb but we were unable to find the lost credit card.
fit like a glove
- to fit perfectly
The woman's new dress fit like a glove so she was very happy.
fly by the seat of one`s pants
- to do something by instinct rather than by knowledge or logic
I was forced to fly by the seat of my pants when my computer broke and I had to try and fix it.
handle (someone) with kid gloves
- to treat someone very gently and carefully
You must handle the new employee with kid gloves because he is very sensitive.
a hand-me-down
- a piece of clothing that is given to someone after another person does not need it
My father wore many hand-me-down clothes when he was a child.
have a bee in one`s bonnet
- to have a fixed idea that stays in one's mind
The woman has a bee in her bonnet about starting a new business.
have a card up one`s sleeve
- to have a reserve plan or a secret advantage
I do not know the manager's plans but I think that he has a card up his sleeve and he will soon make an important announcement.
have ants in one`s pants
- to be restless, to be nervous
The teacher told the little boy that he was moving around like he had ants in his pants.
have (something) up one`s sleeve
- to have a secret plan or solution for something, to be ready for a time when something is needed
I do not know what my friend has up his sleeve but I am sure that he is planning to say something at the meeting.
hit (someone) below the belt
- to do something in an unfair or cowardly way
My friend was hitting below the belt when he criticized me after I told him my true feelings on the matter.
if the shoe fits wear it
- if what is being said in general describes you then it probably means you
You should not criticize others for something that you would do yourself. Remember, if the shoe fits wear it.
in (someone`s) shoes
- in another person's place or position
I would hate to be in my cousin's shoes now that he has lost his job.
keep one`s shirt on
- to keep from losing one`s temper or getting excited, to be calm/patient
"Keep your shirt on. You shouldn`t get so excited about such a small problem."
keep (something) under one`s hat
- to keep something secret
I plan to keep my plans to look for a new job under my hat.
lose one`s shirt
- to lose all or most of one`s money
The man lost his shirt gambling and now he is in serious financial difficulty.
off-the-cuff
- without preparation
Our boss made a great off-the-cuff speech at the party last night.
old hat
- to be not new or different, to be old-fashioned
We have been using the new computer program for many months. It is old hat now.
on a shoestring
- on a very low budget, with very little money
We went to Europe on a shoestring and we enjoyed it very much.
on (someone`s) coat-tails
- as a result of someone else doing something
The woman was elected to city council on her husband`s coat-tails.
pull (something) out of a hat
- to produce something as if by magic, to invent something
At first the lawyer said that she did not have the information but then she suddenly pulled it out of a hat.
pull up one`s socks
- to make a greater effort
"It is time that you pull up your socks and begin to work hard and take this job seriously."
put on one`s thinking cap
- to think hard and long about something
I will put on my thinking cap and try to find a solution to the problem by next week.
roll up one`s sleeves
- to get ready for a hard job, to prepare to work hard or seriously
"Let`s roll up our sleeves and begin to work so that we can finish early."
shoe is on the other foot
- the opposite is true, places are changed
For a long time my friend laughed at my problems at work. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he also has serious problems.
stuffed shirt
- a person who is too rigid or too formal
I do not want to invite my neighbor to come with us because he is a stuffed shirt and not very interesting to spend time with.
take one`s hat off to (someone)
- to admire/respect/praise someone
You have to take your hat off to my neighbor. He started a small business and now it is very successful.
talk through one`s hat
- to say something without knowing or understanding the facts
Our supervisor is talking through his hat again and he does not know what he is talking about.
tighten one`s belt
- to live on less money than usual
If we want to go on a holiday to Europe this year we will have to tighten our belts and begin to save some money.
too big for one`s boots/breeches
- to think that you are more important than you really are
Our manager is too big for his breeches and needs someone to make him realize that he is not so important.
under one`s belt
- in one`s experience or possession, gained by effort and skill
Now that I have some job experience under my belt I will have more chances to apply for a better job.
wear one`s heart on one`s sleeve
- to show one`s feelings openly
The girl is wearing her heart on her sleeve and everyone knows that she is having problems with her boyfriend.
wear the pants in one`s family
- to be the boss of a family or household
The woman wears the pants in her family and she is always telling her husband what to do.
wolf in sheep`s clothing
- a person who pretends to be good but is really bad
The man is a wolf in sheep's clothing and someone that you should be very careful around.
You bet your boots!
- most certainly, yes indeed, absolutely
You can bet your boots that I am going to go and apply for my passport as early as possible.
- to discuss one`s private quarrels or problems in the presence of others
The man does not like his wife to air his dirty linen in public when they are with friends.
at the drop of a hat
- without waiting or planning, immediately, promptly
Our boss will stop working and help someone at the drop of a hat.
bet one`s boots
- to bet everything that one has
I will bet my boots that my friend will not have enough money to go to Greece this winter.
birthday suit
- complete nakedness
The little boy was running through the park in his birthday suit.
buckle down to (do something)
- to give one's complete attention or effort to do something
The teacher told the girl that she must buckle down and begin to work harder than before.
burn a hole in one`s pocket
- to stimulate someone to spend money quickly
My money is burning a hole in my pocket and I will probably spend it quickly.
burst at the seams
- to be too full or too crowded
The train station was bursting at the seams as everyone waited to leave for their holidays.
catch (someone) with their pants down
- to surprise someone in an embarrassing situation or doing something that they should not be doing
The sales manager was caught with his pants down when he was asked for the sales figures but did not have them.
come into fashion
- to become fashionable
Recently the mini-skirt has come into fashion again.
decked out in (something)
- to be dressed in fancy clothes
The actress was decked out in a beautiful silk dress at the ceremony.
die with one`s boots on
- to die while still active in one`s work or doing a job
The man worked hard all his life and died with his boots on when he had a heart attack and died in the factory.
dressed to kill
- to wear one`s finest clothes
The woman was dressed to kill when I saw her at the sales convention.
dressed to the nines/teeth
- to be dressed elegantly, to be dressed very well
The couple were dressed to the nines when they went to the opening of the new theater production.
dress up
- to wear one`s best clothes
I decided to dress up to go to dinner on Saturday night.
feather in one`s cap
- something to be proud of, an honor
Winning the speech contest was a feather in the boy's cap and the greatest honor that he has ever won.
fill (someone`s) shoes
- to take the place of another and do as well as he or she would
It will be difficult for the woman to fill the shoes of the previous supervisor.
fine-tooth/toothed comb
- great care, careful attention so as not to miss anything
We went over the room with a fine-tooth comb but we were unable to find the lost credit card.
fit like a glove
- to fit perfectly
The woman's new dress fit like a glove so she was very happy.
fly by the seat of one`s pants
- to do something by instinct rather than by knowledge or logic
I was forced to fly by the seat of my pants when my computer broke and I had to try and fix it.
handle (someone) with kid gloves
- to treat someone very gently and carefully
You must handle the new employee with kid gloves because he is very sensitive.
a hand-me-down
- a piece of clothing that is given to someone after another person does not need it
My father wore many hand-me-down clothes when he was a child.
have a bee in one`s bonnet
- to have a fixed idea that stays in one's mind
The woman has a bee in her bonnet about starting a new business.
have a card up one`s sleeve
- to have a reserve plan or a secret advantage
I do not know the manager's plans but I think that he has a card up his sleeve and he will soon make an important announcement.
have ants in one`s pants
- to be restless, to be nervous
The teacher told the little boy that he was moving around like he had ants in his pants.
have (something) up one`s sleeve
- to have a secret plan or solution for something, to be ready for a time when something is needed
I do not know what my friend has up his sleeve but I am sure that he is planning to say something at the meeting.
hit (someone) below the belt
- to do something in an unfair or cowardly way
My friend was hitting below the belt when he criticized me after I told him my true feelings on the matter.
if the shoe fits wear it
- if what is being said in general describes you then it probably means you
You should not criticize others for something that you would do yourself. Remember, if the shoe fits wear it.
in (someone`s) shoes
- in another person's place or position
I would hate to be in my cousin's shoes now that he has lost his job.
keep one`s shirt on
- to keep from losing one`s temper or getting excited, to be calm/patient
"Keep your shirt on. You shouldn`t get so excited about such a small problem."
keep (something) under one`s hat
- to keep something secret
I plan to keep my plans to look for a new job under my hat.
lose one`s shirt
- to lose all or most of one`s money
The man lost his shirt gambling and now he is in serious financial difficulty.
off-the-cuff
- without preparation
Our boss made a great off-the-cuff speech at the party last night.
old hat
- to be not new or different, to be old-fashioned
We have been using the new computer program for many months. It is old hat now.
on a shoestring
- on a very low budget, with very little money
We went to Europe on a shoestring and we enjoyed it very much.
on (someone`s) coat-tails
- as a result of someone else doing something
The woman was elected to city council on her husband`s coat-tails.
pull (something) out of a hat
- to produce something as if by magic, to invent something
At first the lawyer said that she did not have the information but then she suddenly pulled it out of a hat.
pull up one`s socks
- to make a greater effort
"It is time that you pull up your socks and begin to work hard and take this job seriously."
put on one`s thinking cap
- to think hard and long about something
I will put on my thinking cap and try to find a solution to the problem by next week.
roll up one`s sleeves
- to get ready for a hard job, to prepare to work hard or seriously
"Let`s roll up our sleeves and begin to work so that we can finish early."
shoe is on the other foot
- the opposite is true, places are changed
For a long time my friend laughed at my problems at work. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he also has serious problems.
stuffed shirt
- a person who is too rigid or too formal
I do not want to invite my neighbor to come with us because he is a stuffed shirt and not very interesting to spend time with.
take one`s hat off to (someone)
- to admire/respect/praise someone
You have to take your hat off to my neighbor. He started a small business and now it is very successful.
talk through one`s hat
- to say something without knowing or understanding the facts
Our supervisor is talking through his hat again and he does not know what he is talking about.
tighten one`s belt
- to live on less money than usual
If we want to go on a holiday to Europe this year we will have to tighten our belts and begin to save some money.
too big for one`s boots/breeches
- to think that you are more important than you really are
Our manager is too big for his breeches and needs someone to make him realize that he is not so important.
under one`s belt
- in one`s experience or possession, gained by effort and skill
Now that I have some job experience under my belt I will have more chances to apply for a better job.
wear one`s heart on one`s sleeve
- to show one`s feelings openly
The girl is wearing her heart on her sleeve and everyone knows that she is having problems with her boyfriend.
wear the pants in one`s family
- to be the boss of a family or household
The woman wears the pants in her family and she is always telling her husband what to do.
wolf in sheep`s clothing
- a person who pretends to be good but is really bad
The man is a wolf in sheep's clothing and someone that you should be very careful around.
You bet your boots!
- most certainly, yes indeed, absolutely
You can bet your boots that I am going to go and apply for my passport as early as possible.
