Ever think about how many idioms come from articles of clothing? Probably not, but you have likely used many of them.
At the drop of a hat – without delay or good reason
Feather in one’s cap – something someone can be proud of
That’s old hat – old fashioned; outdated
Take your hat off to someone – praise them for something
Put on your thinking cap – think seriously about something; use your brain
Hot under the collar – angry
Give someone the shirt off your back – give someone anything they need
Off the cuff – without preparation
Wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve – clearly show emotions
Ride one’s coattails – to have one’s success dependent on that of someone else
Trick up one’s sleeve – a secret method to use when you need it
Roll up your sleeves – get to work
Lose one’s shirt – to lose all your money
To hit below the belt – to say something unfair or uncalled for to someone
Tighten one’s belt – spend less money
Bursting at the seams – full to overflowing; very crowded
Fall apart at the seams – be in a state of decline
Buckle down – get serious; get to work
Line your own pockets – make money in a dishonest way
Money burns a hole in my pocket – I spend everything I have
Keep it zipped – keep quiet; don’t admit anything or tell anything
Caught with your pants down – something happens that someone isn’t prepared for that embarrasses them
Fly by the seat of your pants – use your instincts to tell you what to do in an unfamiliar situation
To wear the pants – to be the boss
To have ants in your pants – to be restless or anxious
Fits like a glove – fits perfectly
Handle with kid gloves – be very careful with
Put a sock in it – tell someone to be quiet
Walk in someone else’s shoes – have someone else’s life and problems for a while
Birthday suit – nudity
Dirty laundry – embarrassing things in one’s life
Cut from the same cloth – alike
Wolf in sheep’s clothing – a person or thing that appears harmless, but is really hostile
If the shoe fits – something that is said or thought about someone is true, and they should accept it
Get along on a shoestring – get by with very little money
Quake in one’s boots – be very nervous or afraid
Knock one’s socks off – strongly impress someone
On the subject of clothing, we can still find the residue of the no longer used auxiliary verb ‘to do’.
We still ‘do up’ our coats. Once upon a time, people would ‘do on’ and ‘do off’ clothing (now contracted to ‘don’ and (almost exclusively hats) ‘doff’
I haven’t heard “do up” our coats too often here — well, especially in Florida! Don and doff are occasionally used, but sound preentious these days. They are good for word games though.
Wasn’t it Abraham Lincoln, paraphrasing Shakespeare misquoting Eleanor Roosevelt, who said, “Don’t expect the other shoe to drop before counting your chickens who’ve come home to roost”?
Thank you for this list of idioms with succinct explanations.
You are very welcome. Not sure about that paraphrased misquote!