shirt-sleeve

or shirt·sleeve, shirt-sleeved, shirt-sleeves

[ shurt-sleev ]

adjective

1. not wearing a jacket; informally dressed:

   a shirt-sleeve mob.

2. warm enough to live or work in without wearing a jacket or coat:

   shirt-sleeve weather in November.

3. simple, plain, and informal; direct and straightforward in approach, manner, etc.:

   shirt-sleeve diplomacy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirt-sleeve¹

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

Thurstane partially threw off his coat and rolled up his shirt sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

Here you will find the padre with his coat off engaged in the real "shirt-sleeve" religion of the trenches.

From Project Gutenberg

He then rolled up his shirt sleeve to show that he was a white man, since his hands and face were almost as dark as an Indian's.

From Project Gutenberg

Again, they faced one another, the wounded man having hastily tied a piece of his shirt sleeve round his arm.

From Project Gutenberg

By the time Mr. Narkom came up with him he had laid aside his coat and was hastily turning back the cuff of his shirt sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg