# wardrobe malfunction

idiom · CEFR C1 · Humorous

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/wardrobe-malfunction
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Meaning

An embarrassing situation where a person's clothing accidentally moves or breaks, revealing a part of the body that is usually covered. It is often used to describe incidents involving celebrities or public figures.

## Examples

- She had a minor wardrobe malfunction when her button popped off during the dance.
- The news anchor handled her wardrobe malfunction with grace, continuing the broadcast despite her microphone clip falling through her shirt.
- While the designer emphasized the avant-garde nature of the collection, critics focused primarily on the series of wardrobe malfunctions that occurred as models struggled with the impractical fasteners on the runway.

## Origin

The term was famously coined by Justin Timberlake's spokesperson to describe the incident during the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. During the performance, Timberlake pulled a piece of Janet Jackson's costume, accidentally exposing her breast to millions of viewers. The phrase was used as a euphemism to suggest the exposure was a technical accident rather than a planned stunt. It quickly entered the popular lexicon as a standard way to describe any accidental clothing failure.

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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.