A few minutes ago I said ‘don’t get shirty!’ to my husband in a joking manner, and we had a bit of a laugh and my daughter then wondered where shirty came from. I must confess I don’t know. It means of course don’t get cross or annoyed, and I would think it’s probably quite a mild thing, and possibly quite an old fashioned thing to say. I would also guess that the person saying it might also be feeling a little shirty! It must be very closely connected to ‘keep your shirt on!’ which means much the same thing. Does it originate from people pulling off their shirts to have a fight?
Apparently, according to some etymological sites it comes from ‘getting your shirt out’, which I suppose is untucking it from your trousers (or skirt if you happen to be wearing one, or even a kilt!) It may date back to the 1840’s, but that only means that was when it was noted in a dictionary or article about words, expressions and their meaning. I also learned that it can be used the other way round, meaning to annoy or aggravate someone – to get their shirt out, as in ‘I really got his shirt out!’
There are a few other clothing/anger expressions – getting hot under the collar, flipping your wig, losing your rag, and my favourite, getting your knickers in a twist. My favourite etymological site, has a rather lovely example: ill-tempered,” 1846, slang, probably from shirt (n.) + -y – on notion of being disheveled in anger. Dishevelled in anger, I like it!!
Here i thought it an euphemism for something quite else …
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Haha!!! I can guess what 😀
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Love this, such great sayings.
‘Pull your socks up’ Lois and find some more!
One of my favourites is
‘ red hat, no drawers’ 😂😂😂
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Pull your socks up!! I forgot that!! Up north they say ‘fur coat, no knickers!’ I shall never look at anyone wearing a red hat in the same way now!
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