to lose one's shirt

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Takoyaki-English  #507206  Tue, 29 Apr 08 05:59 PM

Hello. Big Smile

--

A: Do you buy stock?

B: I used to, but I lost my shirt.

---

Actually, B lost a lot of money, not his "shirt," didn't he?

  
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JCDenton  #507213  Tue, 29 Apr 08 06:20 PM

Yes, he lost all of his money in risky financial undertakings (stock market, in your example).

Nice example of this slang phrase was in one episode of CSI Las Vegas (7x21). Forensics found a dead body of very famous boxer in the swimming pool of some night club in Nevada. Owner of this club was nervous, because of the cops presence. He was afraid that he will lose his customers..He said:


I know a man die here, but dead is dead. I'll lose my shirt

 

regards

 

  
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Grammar Geek  #507246  Tue, 29 Apr 08 07:43 PM

Totally unrelated to this post, but was that not the FUNNIEST episode ever?

  
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Barbara, who answers in American English.
Takoyaki-English  #507260  Tue, 29 Apr 08 08:08 PM

JCDenton and Grammar Geek,
Thanks for your replies.

I've never seen CSI, but I hope I have an opportunity to see it sometime soon.

  
JCDenton  #507487  Wed, 30 Apr 08 08:01 AM

Grammar Geek

Totally unrelated to this post, but was that not the FUNNIEST episode ever?

 Hi GG,

I absolutely agree..:-). Although it has been a while since I have seen this episode, I still have it in fresh memory... Finding of the COD of that boxer was realy funny. It was miracle what he was able
to survive. He was smashed with a crowbar, shot by a crossbow, poisoned by shrimp from that boss lady and bitten by a snake...but at the end they found out that he just drown in that swimming pool...:-))

7x21 belongs to the list of my favourite CSI episodes...in common with "Grave Danger" and "Pirates of the third Reich"...

regards

JCD

  
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