shirt

shirt — noun

1. a garment you wear on your upper body, with a collar, sleeves, and usually a row

1.nounA2
Definition

a garment you wear on your upper body, with a collar, sleeves, and usually a row of buttons that run down the center — often made from cotton or linen.

Example

Adaeze ironed her white shirt before the job interview.

collocation: iron a shirt

The waiter's shirt had a small stain near the collar.

collocation: shirt collar

Common collocations
  • button-down shirt
  • dress shirt
  • cotton shirt
  • striped shirt
  • shirt collar
  • shirt sleeve
  • shirt pocket
  • iron a shirt
  • tuck in a shirt
  • unbutton a shirt
  • button up a shirt
  • starched shirt
  • crisp white shirt
  • short‑sleeved / long‑sleeved shirt
Synonyms
  • blouse

    worn mainly by women; softer fabric, often looser fit, decorative details

  • top

    general term for any upper‑body garment worn by women; broader category than shirt

  • T‑shirt

    casual, no collar or buttons, short sleeves, knitted cotton fabric

Grammar Patterns

a/the [adjective] shirt

shirt + noun (shirt collar, shirt sleeve)

Usage Note

A shirt is distinguished from a T‑shirt (which has no collar or buttons) and a blouse (typically worn by women, often with softer fabric and feminine details). In formal and business settings, a shirt with a collar is standard wear.

Common Mistakes

I need to buy a shirt for swimming at the beach.
I need to buy a swimsuit for swimming at the beach.
A shirt is an everyday or formal upper‑body garment, not swimwear.
She wore a nice shirt to bed because it was hot.
She wore a T‑shirt to bed because it was hot.
For sleeping or very casual wear, a T‑shirt (no collar or buttons) is more natural than a button‑up shirt.

2. a fixed‑phrase use of 'shirt' to mean all of a person's money or possessions — f

2.nounB2
Definition

a fixed‑phrase use of 'shirt' to mean all of a person's money or possessions — for example, losing everything on a bet, or giving generously even when you have little yourself.

Example

Owen nearly lost his shirt on that risky stock investment.

idiom: lose one's shirt

Yael would give you the shirt off her back if you needed help.

idiom: give the shirt off one's back

Common collocations
  • lose one's shirt
  • bet one's shirt
  • give the shirt off one's back
Synonyms
  • everything

    neutral alternative in phrases like 'lost everything'; less vivid but clearer

  • all one's savings

    more literal; specifies money rather than all possessions

Grammar Patterns

lose + one's + shirt

bet + one's + shirt + on + [sth]

give + [sb] + the shirt off + one's + back

Usage Note

This sense only appears in a small set of fixed expressions. You cannot freely replace 'shirt' with 'money' in ordinary sentences. The phrase is always informal and usually describes a dramatic financial loss or extreme generosity.

Common Mistakes

I lost my shirt yesterday — I forgot my wallet at home.
I nearly lost my shirt on that gambling bet.
'Lose one's shirt' means to lose all your money in a risky situation, not to misplace an object.
Idioms

keep your shirt on

idiom

used to tell someone to stay calm and not get angry or impatient.

Keep your shirt on — the pizza will arrive in ten minutes.

I told my brother to keep his shirt on while I finished packing.

put your shirt on somebody/something

idiom

To risk all your money by betting on a person or thing.

Maya put her shirt on the underdog team winning the match.

Would you really put your shirt on that horse to win?

the shirt off somebody’s back

idiom

Everything a person owns, even the things they need most.

Diego would give you the shirt off his back if you asked.

That scammer took the shirt off his back and left him with nothing.

Word family

  • T‑shirt
    nounA2
  • sweatshirt
    nounB1
  • shirting
    nounC1
  • shirtless
    adjectiveB2
  • shirty
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Shirt, blouse, T‑shirt, top, and sweater all refer to upper‑body garments, but they differ in collar design, formality, and who typically wears them. A shirt has a collar, buttons, and usually long or short sleeves — it is standard in offices and formal settings. A blouse is similar but is typically worn by women and often has softer fabric, looser fit, or decorative details such as ruffles. A T‑shirt is casual, with no collar or buttons, short sleeves, and is made from soft knitted cotton. A top is a broad term for any upper‑body garment worn by women, covering everything from casual tank tops to elegant silk blouses. A sweater is knitted, designed for warmth, and may or may not have a collar or buttons. For example: 'He put on a crisp white shirt for the meeting' (formal), but 'She changed into a T‑shirt after getting home' (casual), and 'Eric wore a thick wool sweater in the winter chill.'

shirt ↗blouse ↗T‑shirttopsweater ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • shirt fabric
  • shirt size
  • shirt brand

Phrases

  • change one's shirt
  • strip down to one's shirt
  • dressed in shirt and tie

Prepositions

  • in a shirt
  • out of a shirt

Etymology

Proto‑GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Shirt comes from Old English 'scyrte', a short garment worn next to the skin. The word is a relative of 'skirt' — both come from the same Germanic root meaning 'short'. In early English, a shirt was an undergarment, but over time it became the outer upper‑body garment we know today. The metaphorical meanings (lose one's shirt, give the shirt off one's back) appeared in the 1800s and reflect the idea that a shirt is a basic necessity — losing it means having nothing left.