Clothes idioms

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English idioms relating to CLOTHES
Below the belt	An action or remark described as below the belt means that it is considered unfair or cruel. "Politicians sometimes use personal information to hit their rivals below the belt."
Tighten your belt	If you need to tighten your belt, you must spend your money carefully. "Another bill? I'll have to tighten my belt this month!"
Under one's belt	If you have something under your belt, you have acquired experience or have satisfactorily achieved something. "You've got to have some work experience under your belt before you can hope to get a permanent job."
Die with one's boots on	A person who dies with their boots on dies while still leading an active life. "He says he'll never retire. He'd rather die with his boots on!"
Hang up one's boots	When a sports player hangs up their boots, they stop playing and retire. This expression is often used to refer to retirement in general. "Dad says he's going to hang up his boots at the end of the year."
Lick someone's boots	To say that one person licks another person's boots means that they are trying to please that person, often in order to obtain something.
Get too big for your boots (or britches)	To say that a person is getting too big for their boots means that you think they are behaving as if they were more important that they really are. "Tom's really getting too big for his boots since he got a promotion - he hardly says hello any more!"
Put on your thinking cap	If you tell someone to put their thinking cap on, you ask them to find an idea or solve a problem by thinking about it. "Now here's this week's quiz - it's time to put your thinking caps on!"
A feather in one's cap	To describe someone's achievement as a feather in their cap means that it is something they can be proud of. "The overwhelming victory of the team was a feather in the cap for the new manager."
Hot under the collar	If you get hot under the collar, you feel annoyed, indignant or embarrassed. "If anyone criticizes his proposals, Joe immediately gets hot under the collar."
Off the cuff	If you speak off the cuff, you say something without any previous thought or preparation. "He handles off-the-cuff interviews very well."
Fit like a glove	If something fits you like a glove, it fits you perfectly. "I was lucky! The first skirt I tried on fitted me like a glove!"
Hand in glove	Two or more people who are in collusion, or work in close association, are said to be hand in glove. "After the match, it was discovered that he was hand in glove with the referee."
Iron fist/hand in a velvet glove	This expression is used to describe someone who, behind an appearance of gentleness, is inflexible and determined. "To impose the necessary reforms, the leader used persuasion followed by force - an iron fist in a velvet glove."
Handle someone with kid gloves.	If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them very carefully or tactfully, either because they are very important or because they are easily upset. "He is so determined to obtain her agreement that he is handling her with kid gloves."
At the drop of a hat	If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it immediately and without hesitation "I've got great friends. They're ready to help out at the drop of a hat."
Keep something under one's hat	To keep something under one's hat means to keep a secret. "My boss has promised me a promotion, but it's not official yet, so keep it under your hat."
Take one's hat off to somebody	You say this to express admiration for something someone has done. "I take my hat off to the chef. The meal was wonderful."
Wear many hats	Someone who wears many hats has to do many different types of tasks or play a variety of roles. "Our company is small so the employees need to be flexible and accept to wear many hats.
Get your knickers in a twist.	If you get your knickers in twist, you are angry, nervous or upset faced with a difficult situation "Don't get your knickers in a twist! Everything is under control."
Ants in one's pants	People who have ants in their pants are very restless or excited about something "I wish he'd relax. He's got ants in his pants about something today!"
Caught with your pants down	If you are caught with your pants down, you are caught doing something bad or forbidden. "Our neighbours were caught interfering with their electricity metre - caught with their pants down!"
Keep your shirt on!	If you tell somebody to keep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down.
The shoe is on the other foot	When the circumstances have reversed and one person now doing what the the other person did in the past, you can say that the shoe is on the other foot. "I used to advise my children to eat healthy food. Now my daughter is a nutritionist and the shoe is on the other foot - she advises me!"
In someone's shoes	To talk about being in someone's shoes means to imagine how you would react if you were in a similar situation as that person.
On a shoestring	If you do something on a shoestring, you do it with very little money. "When I was a student I lived on a shoestring.
Have an ace up one's sleeve	If you have an ace up your sleeve, you have something in reserve with which you can gain an advantage. "I'm well prepared for the negotiations. I've got an ace up my sleeve."
Laugh up your sleeve	If you laugh up your sleeve, you are secretly amused at another person's problems or difficulties. "Tom felt that his explanation was confusing and that his colleague was laughing up his sleeve."
Roll up your sleeves	When you roll up your sleeves, you get ready for hard work. "To increase our market share we'll have to roll up our sleeves and find new customers."
Pull your socks up	If you tell someone to pull their socks up, you are saying that they need to make an effort to improve their performance.
Swishing/swishing party	Swishing is the name given to a new fashion phenomenon - a party organised to swap second hand clothes. Everyone takes along clothes they no longer wear and people can then choose the ones they want.
Black tie event	This expression refers to a formal event at which men are required to wear a dinner jacket, or tuxedo, and a black bow tie. "I need to know if it's going to be a casual get-together or a black tie event."
Wear the trousers (or pants)	The partner in a couple who wears the trousers is the one who makes the important decisions.

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