IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishin one's birthday suit
Meaning: Completely naked.
Example: “The toddler escaped from the bath and ran through the party in his birthday suit.”
Origin: The joke is that you wear it on the day you were born. In the 18th century a "birthday suit" was a fine outfit worn to court on the monarch's birthday; the naked sense is recorded by the late 18th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Dans le plus simple appareil Literally: In the simplest apparatus
More English idioms
- throw caution to the wind To stop being careful and take a risk.
- a last stand A final, determined effort to resist, usually when defeat is likely.
- you could hear a pin drop It was completely silent.
- just to be on the safe side As an extra precaution, even if it is probably unnecessary.
- perfidious Albion A mocking name for England or Britain as treacherous and untrustworthy.
- the die is cast A decision has been made and cannot be undone.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Enough is as good as a feast. Contentment with sufficiency brings the same satisfaction as abundance without the excess.
- Enough and to spare is too much. Abundance beyond necessity breeds excess and waste, inviting trouble rather than security.
- There's never enough where nothing's left. Hoarding depletes resources faster than sharing them, making scarcity worse for everyone.
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