# the shirt off one's back

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/the-shirt-off-ones-back
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Everything currently in the possession of a person.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.