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like a dirty shirt
DCHP-3 (Mar 2024)
1†expression — informal; also "off [OBJECT] like a dirty shirt"
to do away with; to disprefer something; to leave
The expression is in use in multiple countries. As Chart 1 shows, like a dirty shirt is twice as frequent in Canada as in the UK and ten times as frequent in Canada as in the US. This meaning is common outside of Canada, however, as the 2016 quotation from the US show A Way With Words exemplifies.
Like a dirty shirt is not listed in OED-3 or found in its quotations. “Dirty shirt”, however, occurs in five quotations in OED-3 (28 March 2024). The term is also not listed in EDD. COD-2 does not list “dirty shirt” among its compounds with “dirty”, e.g. “dirty bomb” to “dirty work”, and does not include the expression. The expression is also not listed in the other Canadian dictionaries CCD-2010, Gage-5, FWSCD-82, ITP Nelson or CGCPD-2006.
The term is not listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged, W-2, W-3 or DARE. This meaning, however, is common in a number of World English varieties (hence the “dagger” for non-Canadian).
Like a dirty shirt is not listed in OED-3 or found in its quotations. “Dirty shirt”, however, occurs in five quotations in OED-3 (28 March 2024). The term is also not listed in EDD. COD-2 does not list “dirty shirt” among its compounds with “dirty”, e.g. “dirty bomb” to “dirty work”, and does not include the expression. The expression is also not listed in the other Canadian dictionaries CCD-2010, Gage-5, FWSCD-82, ITP Nelson or CGCPD-2006.
The term is not listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged, W-2, W-3 or DARE. This meaning, however, is common in a number of World English varieties (hence the “dagger” for non-Canadian).
Quotations
1882
[...] and he certainly, in his wildest moments, never had so far forgotten the nature of government, as to argue that we ought to wish for a constitution, that we could alter at pleasure, and change like a dirty shirt.
1938
In his dressing-room, the brunette was quiet and cold again, dropping his fury, if fury it was, like a dirty shirt.
1939
The Canadian government seems to be off the old soldier like a dirty shirt but we will bet that Finland would be glad to get a division of them if they were physically fit no matter whether they were sweet sixteen, had a university degree or had their hair permanent waved or not.
1970
I knew him. I also knew that men could act strangely under stress. Today's coward could be tomorrow's hero. The war had shown that. I tried to explain it to Billie."Bunk!" she said. "I know men! They always alibi each other. I'm off him like a dirty shirt." And she was.
2expression — often "in (there) like a dirty shirt"
to force your way into something; to participate in something enthusiastically.
Type: 5. Frequency — Chart 2 shows the expression [to be] in there like a dirty shirt to be predominantly used in Canada today, which makes it Canadian by virtue of frequency. It is, however, likely a Preservation, similar to gong show. As the metaphor underlying the expressions (to be in, to be off like something) is transparent and can be independently developed, a wide range of meanings is documented (see fist note below).
While usually in the form of in (there) like a dirty shirt, see the 2002 and 2008 quotations for other variants. To be in like a dirty shirt is used by Jim Carrey in the 1994 movie Dumb and Dumber (see Video).
While usually in the form of in (there) like a dirty shirt, see the 2002 and 2008 quotations for other variants. To be in like a dirty shirt is used by Jim Carrey in the 1994 movie Dumb and Dumber (see Video).
Other forms expressing that meaning:
to be on somebody or something like a dirty shirt (see the 2002 quotation)
Quotations
1976
I'm a fan of the skating game of hockey...the Philadelphia Flyers will be in like a dirty shirt. Somehow, I don't think that their brand of hockey will warrant their third Stanley Cup in a row.
1988
"People really know when certain movies will be out on video. You get them (customers) in your store like a dirty shirt — the same day that that video's out they come in and they want it. If you don't have it they travel everywhere."
2002
"[A woman called in from the Kitikmeot and said] ... I've been separated for nine years, [I've] yet to see maintenance, yet to see dealing with custody. The civil side is really crying [out] in Nunavut right now. If those people committed a crime, we'd be on them like a dirty shirt."
2006
"This was wonderful to me - he was dumping bees, and had hives in his backyard. I was in there like a dirty shirt. He was friendly about it; I got to know him, and he helped me get going on my own hives."
2008
I know if the shoe were on the other foot - we could be quite sure lefty pundits like Bill Tielman and the Tyee would be all over it like a dirty shirt.
2011
And so she joined the Dalhousie soccer team this past season. To say she fit in like a dirty shirt would be a complete understatement.
2017
They thought I was f--king nuts. But my enthusiasm prevailed and they sure as hell saw the light when we kicked into it at the Misty Moon in Halifax at about 2 in the morning. We were in like a dirty shirt out East from that day forward.
2023
“There’s a lot of misconception about what we do,” said Grant. “CT scans provide greater detail than your average x-ray, capturing images of organs, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body. It’s fast-paced and you have an instant connection to the pathology. You get in there like a dirty shirt, it’s fascinating.”
References
- OED-3
- COD-2
- Dumb and Dumber (1994) • "and we're in like a dirty shirt"
- EDD
- CCD-2010
- Gage-5
- FWSCD-82
- ITP Nelson
- CGCPD-2006
- Merriam-Webster Unabridged
- W-2
- W-3
- DARE
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 21 March 2024
