Clothes and fashion

Lesson 5

Cut from the same cloth

Title: 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

Cut your coat according to your cloth

Title: 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

Give it a whirl

Title: 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

keep your pants on

Title: keep your pants on

Meaning: to tell someone to be calm

Example

I told him to keep his pants on after being punked

To the nines

Title: To the nines

Meaning: to perfection

Example

The masked ball was excellent. You should have seen the costumes. Everyone was dressed to the nines

Pull the wool over eyes

Title: Pull the wool over eyes

Meaning: to deceive someone

Example

I'm not as dumb as you think; don't try to pull the wool over my eyes

Wash dirty linen in public

Title: Wash dirty linen in public

Meaning: discuss publicly matters that one should keep private

Example

She decided not to take the family dispute to court as she feared it would only lead to a lot of washing of dirty linen in public

Jump on the bandwagon

Title: Jump on the bandwagon

Meaning: to start doing something because it is fashionable or profitable

Example

The whole town was quick to jump on the bandwagon when people began to realize the home team would win the championship

old school

Title: old school

Meaning: old fashioned ideas or approach compared to current trends

Example

Dress smart when you come round for dinner, my father is a bit old school

All the rage

Title: All the rage

Meaning: when something is the height of popularity

Example

My parents used to love the Beatles. They were all the rage when they were teenagers.

Dressed to kill

Title: Dressed to kill

Meaning: elaborately attired, dressed to draw attraction

Example

She arrived at the reception dressed to kill

Off the cuff

Title: Off the cuff

Meaning: in an unguarded way

Example

She has a habit of making off-the-cuff remarks which she later denies