Laundry expressions are used to talk about washing, drying, and cleaning clothes, as well as metaphorically represent daily life challenges and accomplishments.
Laundry Expressions
- Air one’s dirty laundry
Meaning: Reveal personal secrets or problems
Example: Don’t air our dirty laundry publicly. - Wash one’s hands of
Meaning: Refuse involvement or responsibility
Example: She washed her hands of the issue. - Take to the cleaners
Meaning: Cheat someone financially
Example: They took him to the cleaners. - Spin cycle
Meaning: Fast-paced or hectic situation
Example: Life has been a spin cycle lately. - Hang out to dry
Meaning: Leave someone without help
Example: Don’t hang me out to dry. - In the wash
Meaning: Unclear or unresolved situation
Example: The truth will come out in the wash. - Out of the spin
Meaning: Overcome stress or confusion
Example: After the meeting, he felt out of the spin. - Bleed through
Meaning: Affect or impact something else
Example: Her work stress bled through to her family. - Put through the wringer
Meaning: Subject to severe stress or strain
Example: The boss put her through the wringer. - On the line
Meaning: At risk or in danger
Example: My reputation is on the line. - Keep in check
Meaning: Control or manage properly
Example: Keep your spending in check. - Turn inside out
Meaning: Completely change or rearrange
Example: Their plans were turned inside out. - Iron out
Meaning: Resolve issues or difficulties
Example: Let’s iron out these differences. - Sort out
Meaning: Organize or fix problems
Example: We need to sort out the laundry. - Clean slate
Meaning: Fresh start, free from past issues
Example: She wanted to start with a clean slate. - Take up with
Meaning: Start associating or dealing with
Example: He took up with a new group. - Fold up
Meaning: Collapse or fail completely
Example: The business folded up due to competition. - Pile up
Meaning: Accumulate over time
Example: Work piled up during my absence. - Leave high and dry
Meaning: Abandon without help or resources
Example: They left us high and dry. - Press on
Meaning: Continue with determination
Example: Despite setbacks, they pressed on.