Give the Shirt Off One’s Back

Meaning of Idiom ‘Give the Shirt Off One’s Back’

To give (someone) the shirt off one’s (your, his, her) back is to give anything or everything you have; to be extremely generous and helpful; to be willing to sacrifice to help others. 1Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,2Pare, May. Body Idioms and More: For Learners of English. United States?: Mayuree Pare, 2005.

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Examples Of Use

“Timothy is the nicest guy I’ve ever met. He’d give you the shirt off his back.”

“Sam never stops trying to help others. He’d give you the shirt off his own back and, if that wasn’t enough, his pants too!”

“He’ll give you the shirt off his back one minute and then ten seconds later rob your asthma medication for something to snort.” — Skins (2007)

“Sure, sure. I remember him. Bighearted sweet guy. Give you the shirt off his back. When did he die?” — Oscar (1991)

“I’ve known Woody Lopeman for 15 years. I’d give him the shirt off my back…” — There Was a Crooked Man… (1970)

Origin

This hyperbolic way of describing a generous person has been in use since at least the 1770’s. 3Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.

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More Idioms Starting with F

• From Your Lips to God’s Ears
• Fox Guarding the Henhouse
• Friends in High Places
• Flat Broke
• Fit To Be Tied

More Back Idioms

• Know Something Like the Back Of One’s Hand
• Run Back
• Behind Someone’s Back (to do something)
• Back Street and Back Alley

More Body Part Idioms

• Go Belly Up
• Stand On Someone’s Shoulders
• In One’s Face
• Give Someone the Cold Shoulder
• Know Something Like the Back Of One’s Hand
• Out of the Corner of One’s Eye

More Character Idioms

• Pain in the Neck, a
• Glass Half Empty and Glass Half Full
• Good Egg
• Bad Egg
• Show Your True Colors, to

More Give Idioms

• Give Someone the Cold Shoulder
• Give Me a Second/Minute
• Give Me Some Sugar
• Give Someone a Break

More Positive Character Idioms

• Pain in the Neck, a
• Good Egg
• Salt of the Earth, the
• Not Have A ______ Bone In One’s Body
• Heart of Gold, to have a

More Shirt Idioms

• Keep Your Pants On

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