shirt

/ʃɜːt/ (bre, ipa) · /ʃɜːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshərt/ (ame, mw)

shirt — noun

  • shirtsingular
  • shirtsplural

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

1.名詞A2
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

a/the [adjective] shirt

shirt + noun (shirt collar, shirt sleeve)

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B2
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • everything

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

  • all one's savings

    more literal; specifies money rather than all possessions

文法句型

lose + one's + shirt

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

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

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.