Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

get one's shirt out

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.19 in modern English

Syllables: get one's shirt out
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

1

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To become angry or annoyed; to lose one's temper.

Dated

Example Sentences

""All right, sir, all right," said Chizzlem, lighting a huge cigar; "there it is, don't get your shirt out about it. I daresay I'll get along well enough without you. Though why you should be ashamed at what some of the flyest men do regularly, I can't tell.""
"I dare him, says he, and I doubledare him to send you round here again or if he does, says he, I'll have him summonsed up before the court, so I will, for trading without a licence. And he after stuffing himself till he's fit to burst. Jesus, I had to laugh at the little jewy getting his shirt out."

Etymology

From the custom of taking one's shirt off before fighting (after becoming annoyed).

Usage

Dated

Inflected Forms

gets one's shirt out (present, singular) getting one's shirt out (participle, present) got one's shirt out (past) got one's shirt out (UK, participle) gotten one's shirt out (US, participle)

Phrases

keep one's shirt on

Frequently Paired Words

keep one's shirt on shirty

Questions

What does get one's shirt out mean?: To become angry or annoyed; to lose one's temper.
Where does get one's shirt out come from?: From the custom of taking one's shirt off before fighting (after becoming annoyed).

How to pronounce get one's shirt out

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