Entry 1
A feather in one’s cap
Meaning A symbol of achievement.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Getting nominated for an Oscar is the biggest feather in a film actor’s cap.
Pronunciation
Idioms · 21 entries
Clothes
What does "Clothes" mean?
A symbol of achievement.
A feather in one’s cap
The United Kingdom.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Aesop.
At the drop of a hat
USA, 19th century.
Daisy roots
Dicky Dirt
Double denim
Britain, early 21st century.
Frock up
Australia, 20th century.
Hat trick
Britain, 19th century.
Men in suits
USA, 1930s.
Nip slip
USA, late 20th century.
Rags to riches
Britain, 18th century.
Side boob
Britain, late 20th century.
Sniff test
Late 20th century.
The bull in the bowler hat
Titfer tat
Wardrobe malfunction
USA. First said by Justin Timberlake to explain the inadvertent exposure of Janet Jackson’s breast during the half-time show at the 2004 Super Bowl.
Wear your heart on your sleeve
Whistle and flute
Winter drawers on
Britain, early 20th century. A pun on the expression ‘winter draws on’ (that is, winter is approaching). ‘Drawers’ is a British slang term for knickers.
Yarn bombing
Britain, early 21st century.
Zip your lip
USA, 1940s. Deriving from the allusion to closing a garment with a zipper.
Entry 2
A wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning Someone who uses the pretence of kindliness to disguise their evil intent.
Usage Widely used.
Example
- He was 38 but tried to pass himself off as a thirteen year old in order to get a date with a schoolgirl - a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Pronunciation
Entry 3
At the drop of a hat
Meaning With no delay.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- They were always ready to help. Just say the word and they'd be there at the drop of a hat.
Pronunciation
Entry 4
Daisy roots
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for boots.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
- I can't get them on. Either my feet have got bigger or these daisies have shrunk.
Pronunciation
Entry 5
Dicky Dirt
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for shirt.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
- Jane's wedding today. I'll need a newly pressed dickie dirt for that.
Pronunciation
Entry 6
Double denim
Meaning Denim jeans worn with a denim shirt or jacket.
Usage Mostly Britain and Australia.
Example
- He only ever wears blue and usually it's jeans and a shirt - the full double denim.
Pronunciation
Entry 7
Frock up
Meaning Wear a smart or formal dress for a special occasion.
Usage Most common in Australia, but spreading worldwide
Example
- The boys all wore new suits for the formal and the girls frocked up.
Pronunciation
Entry 8
Hat trick
Meaning A threefold feat in sports or some other activity.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Warne was really on good bowling form today - three wickets in three deliveries. That's the first hat-trick in the match.
Pronunciation
Entry 9
Men in suits
Meaning Conventionally minded and dressed men who hold positions of authority. Also called just 'suits'.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Everyone in the office wanted a Santas and Elves party on Christmas Eve, but the suits said no.
Pronunciation
Entry 10
Nip slip
Meaning The inadvertent exposure of a womans nipple.
Usage Mostly USA and UK and not amongst the older generations.
Example
- Wearing a low cut dress like that, a nip slip was almost inevitable.
Pronunciation
Entry 11
Rags to riches
Meaning From poverty to wealth.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- J K Rowling was on benefits when she wrote Harry Potter. That's a real rags to riches story.
Pronunciation
Entry 12
Side boob
Meaning The side of a female breast revealed by skimpy clothing.
Usage Worldwide, amongst the younger generations.
Example
- That T-shirt is way too loose on Jane. She's showing acres of side boob.
Pronunciation
Entry 13
Sniff test
Meaning Sniff an item of clothing (or food) to check if it might be suitable to wear (or eat).
Usage Mostly Britain, but becoming more common elsewhere.
Example
- I've worn that shirt before but when I gave the underarms the sniff test I thought I'd be okay to wear it again.
Pronunciation
Entry 14
The bull in the bowler hat
Meaning Jokey term for artificial insemination.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
- Leaving things to nature hasn't worked down here on the farm - only 10% of the cows are pregnant. We need a visit from the bull in the bowler hat.
Pronunciation
Entry 15
Titfer tat
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for hat.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
- It looks like rain - I think I'll need a coat and my titfer.
Pronunciation
Entry 16
Wardrobe malfunction
Meaning Referring to an item of clothing slipping out of place to expose part of the body.
Usage Worldwide.
Example
- Her top slipped down in front of the boys. She said it was a wardrobe malfunction but I think it was deliberate.
Pronunciation
Entry 17
Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning Openly express your emotions.
Usage Worldwide, although somewhat old-fashioned.
Example
- He went on his knees in the town square and sang her a love song. You can't say that he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve.
Pronunciation
Entry 18
Whistle and flute
Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for suit.
Usage Mostly Britain.
Example
- That important interview is coming up next week. I think I ought to get a new whistle.
Pronunciation
Entry 19
Winter drawers on
Meaning British euphemistic joke.
Usage Britain.
Example
- Autumn is over and these summer clothes aren't keeping the cold out - winter drawers on I suppose.
Pronunciation
Entry 20
Yarn bombing
Meaning The adorning of public buildings with knitted or crocheted material - either for fun or to make a political point.
Usage Initially mostly Britain but quickly spreading to others countries.
Example
- We wanted to draw attention to the trees that the council planned to cut down so we got the local guerrilla knitters to yarn bomb them for us.
Pronunciation
Entry 21
Zip your lip
Meaning Say nothing; keep your mouth shut. Often shortened to 'zip it'.
Usage Worldwide, but most common in the USA.
Example
- I saw Kevin put sneezing powder in the staff room but he told me to zip my lip about it or it would spoil the joke.
Pronunciation