Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> That certainly puts the practice of robbers to take people's clothes into perspective.

Also probably the source of the "they'd take the shirt of his back" saying.



Probably not. "Steal the shirt off someone's back" means to take everything from a person, even the most basic and least significant item of clothing that they are wearing, and leave them with nothing.


The phrase is usually "he'd give you the shirt off his back." That's much nicer


and it really has nothing to do with the price of clothing


It does, at least a little.

If you give someone a $20 shirt, causing yourself a little embarassment, that's not quite the same commitment to charity as giving them your $20,000 car.


Think of it this way; my shirt would have a lot more value to me than value to you. Therefore, if I gave you the shirt off my own back would show a high degree of selflessness.

That's what the phrase conveys.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: