get one's shirt out
To become angry or annoyed; to lose one's temper.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't get your shirt out over such a small mistake.”
“She gets her shirt out when the bus arrives late.”
“He tends to get his shirt out whenever someone criticizes his work during the meeting.”
“My neighbor usually gets his shirt out if the local children play music too loudly near his garden on Sunday mornings.”
“You should avoid bringing up the budget right now because the director might get his shirt out before you finish the presentation.”
“The manager warned the team that he would get his shirt out if they failed to meet the deadline for the third time this month.”
The idiom arises from the practical custom of removing one's shirt before engaging in a physical altercation, a gesture typically performed after one had become sufficiently annoyed. The removal of the garment served both to preserve the cloth from damage and to deny an opponent a convenient handhold during the ensuing struggle. The phrase remains a linguistic artifact of the moment formal disagreement transitioned into manual labour.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026