the shirt off one's back
Everything currently in the possession of a person.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He is so kind that he would give you the shirt off his back.”
“My brother is incredibly generous and would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need.”
“Despite having very little himself, he possessed such a noble spirit that he would have given the shirt off his back to help a stranger in distress.”
- 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