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Lose one's shirt

Posted by Joe Pessell on September 10, 1999

In Reply to: Lose one's shirt posted by Bruce Kahl on September 09, 1999

: : Can anyone tell me what the phrase 'to lose one's shirt' means?
: : Thanks,
: : App

: When you were in a card game and "took a bath" and you "bet the ranch"
: and lost you would then proceed to "lose one's
: shirt" on your next hand.

Let me clarify Bruce's answer a bit. To lose one's shirt is to lose everything you have, literally or figuratively, to someone else. It's a bit of an exaggeration to lose your shirt, since someone would normally only take your valuables. Maybe if it's a really nice shirt...

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