Clothing idioms and phrasal verbs provide interesting ways to describe fashion, dressing habits, and wardrobe preferences. Here are 20 expressions focused exclusively on clothes.
Clothes Expressions
- Dress to kill
Meaning: Dress in a very fashionable way.
Example: She dressed to kill for the gala. - Put one’s glad rags on
Meaning: Dress in one’s best clothes.
Example: Let’s put our glad rags on and party! - Pull one’s socks up
Meaning: Improve performance or behavior.
Example: He needs to pull his socks up for the presentation. - Wear the trousers
Meaning: Be in control in a relationship.
Example: In their marriage, it’s Jane who wears the trousers. - Dressed to the nines
Meaning: Dressed very elegantly.
Example: He arrived at the event dressed to the nines. - Fit like a glove
Meaning: Suit perfectly.
Example: This tailor-made suit fits like a glove. - Burn a hole in one’s pocket
Meaning: Money that one is eager to spend quickly.
Example: His bonus is burning a hole in his pocket. - Take one’s hat off to someone
Meaning: Show respect or admiration.
Example: I take my hat off to her achievements. - Keep it under one’s hat
Meaning: Keep something secret.
Example: They asked her to keep the news under her hat. - Hand-me-downs
Meaning: Clothes passed down from others.
Example: She was used to wearing her sister’s hand-me-downs. - Tighten one’s belt
Meaning: Reduce expenses.
Example: The company is tightening its belt during this recession. - Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
Meaning: Show emotions openly.
Example: You always wear your heart on your sleeve. - Button one’s lip
Meaning: Stay silent, not talk.
Example: He was advised to button his lip about the surprise. - Roll up one’s sleeves
Meaning: Prepare to work hard.
Example: We need to roll up our sleeves to finish this project. - Zip it up
Meaning: Stop talking, keep quiet.
Example: The teacher told the class to zip it up. - Caught with one’s pants down
Meaning: Caught unprepared.
Example: The team was caught with their pants down by the early launch. - Out of pocket
Meaning: Expenses paid personally.
Example: She was out of pocket after buying new uniforms. - Throw in the towel
Meaning: Admit defeat, give up.
Example: The boxer threw in the towel after the third round. - In one’s Sunday best
Meaning: In one’s best clothes.
Example: The congregation was in their Sunday best. - Tied to one’s apron strings
Meaning: Strongly influenced by someone, often a mother.
Example: He’s still tied to his mother’s apron strings.
