Sheep and Goat Idioms 167 Clothes Idioms

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Clothes Idioms

air one`s dirty linen in public- tell about one`s private quarrels or problems where others can hear---His personal problems are nobody else`s business and he doesn`t like his wife to air his dirty linen in public when they go out with friends. ants in one`s pants- restlessness, nervousness---You are moving around as if you have ants in your pants the teacher said to the little boy. at the drop of a hat- without waiting, immediately, promptly---He will stop working and help you at the drop of a hat if you ask him politely. bee in one`s bonnet- an idea that seems strange or crazy---She has a bee in her bonnet about going to live on an island and starting a herb farm. below the belt- in an unfair or cowardly way---I think that he was hitting below the belt when he began to criticize me after I told him my true feelings on the matter. bet one`s boots- bet everything that one has---I will bet my boots that he is not able to save up enough money to come with us to Greece this winter.

birthday suit- complete nakedness---The little boy was running around the picnic site in his birthday suit. buckle down- give complete attention or effort to do something---I told her that it was time that she buckled down and began to work harder than before.

burn a hole in one`s pocket- money likely to be quickly spent---The money that he made at his part-time job is burning a hole in his pocket and he will probably spend it quickly. burst at the seams- too full or too crowded---The train station was bursting at the seams as everyone was waiting to go away for their holidays.

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card up one`s sleeve- another plan or argument kept back and produced if needed---I don`t know what he is planning to say at the meeting but I think that he has another card up his sleeve and will make an important announcement.

catch with one`s pants down- surprise someone in an embarrassing situation or a guilty act---He was caught with his pants down when he was asked for the figures but was unable to produce them. come into fashion- become fashionable---Recently in some areas the mini-skirt has come into fashion again. decked out- dressed in fancy clothes---I saw her at the concert last night and she was all decked out in a beautiful silk dress.

die with one`s boots on- die while still active in one`s work---He 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- wear one`s finest clothes---She was dressed to kill when I saw her at the sales convention.

dressed to the nines (teeth)- dressed elegantly---They were dressed to the nines when they went to the opening of the new theater production. dress up- put on 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 his cap and the greatest honor that he has ever won.

fill one`s shoes- take the place of another and do as well as he or she would---It will be difficult for him to fill the shoes of the previous supervisor. fine-tooth comb- great care, careful attention so as not to miss anything--We went over the room with a fine-tooth comb but were unable to find the missing credit card.

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fit like a glove- fits perfectly---Her new dress fit like a glove so she was very happy. fly by the seat of one`s pants- do something by instinct rather than by knowledge or logic---He was forced to fly by the seat of his pants when nobody was in the office to help him fix the computer. handle with kid gloves- treat very gently and carefully---You must handle the new employee with kid gloves as he is very sensitive. hand-me-down- clothing that is given away after another person doesn`t need it---During his childhood growing up on a farm he wore many handme-down clothes.

if the shoe fits wear it- that what is said in general can also be said of an individual person---You shouldn`t criticize others for something that you would do yourself. Remember, if the shoe fits wear it. in one`s shoes- in another`s place or position---I would hate to be in his shoes now that he has lost his job. keep one`s shirt on- calm down, keep from losing one`s temper or getting excited---Keep your shirt on. You shouldn`t get so excited about small problems. keep (something) under one`s hat- keep something secret---I plan to keep my plans to apply for a new job under my hat. lose one`s shirt- lose all or most of one`s money---He lost his shirt gambling and now he is in serious financial difficulty. off the cuff- without preparation---He made a very interesting off-the-cuff speech at the party last night. old hat- not new or different, 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 little money to spend---We went to China and Japan on a shoestring and enjoyed it very much.

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on one`s coat-tails- as a result of someone else doing something---She was elected to city council by running on her well-known husband`s coat-tails.

pull out of a hat- get something as if by magic, invent, imagine---At first he said that he didn`t have any of the information but then it suddenly appeared as if he had pulled it out of a hat. pull up one`s socks- 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- 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- get ready for a hard job, 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 don`t want to invite him to go with us because he is a stuffed shirt and not very interesting to spend time with. take one`s hat off to someone- admire, respect, praise---You have to take your hat off to him. He has started a small business and now it is very successful. talk through one`s hat- say something without knowing or understanding the facts---He is talking through his hat again and doesn`t really know what he is talking about. tighten one`s belt- 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.

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too big for one`s breeches/boots- think that you are more important than you really are---He is too big for his breeches and needs someone to make him realize that he is not very important. under one`s belt- in one`s experience or possession; gained by effort and skill---Now that you have experience working for an international company under your belt you will have more chances to apply for a better job. up one`s sleeve- kept secretly ready for the right time or for a time when needed---I don`t know what he has up his sleeve but I am sure that he is planning to say something at the meeting. wear one`s heart on one`s sleeve- show one`s feelings openly---She is wearing her heart on her sleeve and everyone knows that she is having problems with her boyfriend again. wear the pants in one`s family- be the boss of a family or household--She seems to wear the pants in her family and is always telling her husband what to do.

wolf in sheep`s clothing- a person who pretends to be good but is really bad---He is a wolf in sheep's clothing and someone that you should be very careful around. you bet your boots- most certainly, yes indeed---You can bet your boots that I am going to go and apply for my passport as early as possible.