Clothes Idioms

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pick a hole in someone’s coat

Meaning: To find faults in someone, often unfairly or with petty criticism.

Example: The manager loved to pick holes in someone's coat, pointing out mistakes instead of giving encouragement. Read more ➺


a red rag to a bull

Meaning: Something that provokes anger or an uncontrollable reaction in a person.

Example: Mentioning politics around Sarah is a red rag to a bull – she immediately gets angry. Read more ➺


wear the trousers

Meaning: Take control or be the dominant partner in a relationship, especially within a household.

Example: She clearly wears the trousers in their marriage and handles all the finances. Read more ➺


wear the pants

Meaning: Dominate: To have control or authority in a relationship or situation.

Example: In their marriage, she wears the pants, making most financial decisions. Read more ➺


eat my shorts

Meaning: Expresses defiance or rebellious refusal, often used to rudely dismiss or reject someone's demand or authority.

Example: If you think I'm apologizing, you can eat my shorts. Read more ➺


out of whole cloth

Meaning: Fabricated entirely; without any basis in fact. This definition indicates that something is completely made up, with no grounding in reality.

Example: The entire story he told about meeting a famous celebrity was made out of whole cloth to impress his friends. Read more ➺


cut from the same cloth

Meaning: share similar qualities.

Example: The new partners were cut from the same cloth—they had innovative ideas and ambitions for growth. Read more ➺


cut your coat according to your cloth

Meaning: adapt to one's circumstances; make sure one's plans are appropriate to one's resources.

Example: Of course, we'd love a luxurious car, but you have to cut your coat according to your cloth. Read more ➺


give it a whirl

Meaning: to try something new.

Example: The ski instructor told Sally to "give it a whirl" on the beginner's ski slope by following his exact moves. Read more ➺


keep your pants on

Meaning: to tell someone to be calm.

Example: I told him to keep his pants on after being punked. Read more ➺


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