sleeve
- the part of a garment that covers the arm, varying in form and length but commonly tubular.
- an envelope, usually of paper, for protecting a phonograph record.
- Machinery. a tubular piece, as of metal, fitting over a rod or the like.
- to furnish with sleeves.
- Machinery. to fit with a sleeve; join or fasten by means of a sleeve.
- have something up one's sleeve, to have a secret plan, scheme, opinion, or the like: I could tell by her sly look that she had something up her sleeve.
- laugh up/in one's sleeve, to be secretly amused or contemptuous; laugh inwardly: to laugh up one's sleeve at someone's affectations.
Origin of sleeve
Examples from the Web for sleeve
Contemporary Examples
Borrowing language from his father, Paul said he does not wear his religion “on my sleeve.”
Prince Harry has a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve.
I think with Jason, he really does wear his heart on his sleeve.
‘True Blood’ Star Ryan Kwanten Looks Back on Jason Stackhouse’s Craziest ScenesKevin Fallon
June 22, 2014
When the gamma rays enter the sleeve, they interact with that photon gas, annihilating into electron-positron pairs.
On this trip, Rodman put his heart on his sleeve—and his foot in his mouth—and said he “loves” Kim.
Historical Examples
Well, I know some one who has a sleeve with something up it, that's all.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Emma finished the sleeve of the blouse she was mending with a flourish.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
And he turned his head and covered his face with his sleeve.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
Great beads of sweat stood on his brow and he wiped them away with his sleeve.
Howard Pyle's Book of PiratesHoward Pyle
She was standing by Nicholas, holding the edge of his sleeve.
Tiverton TalesAlice Brown
sleeve
- the part of a garment covering the arm
- a tubular piece that is forced or shrunk into a cylindrical bore to reduce the diameter of the bore or to line it with a different material; liner
- a tube fitted externally over two cylindrical parts in order to join them; bush
- a flat cardboard or plastic container to protect a gramophone recordUS name: jacket
- roll up one's sleeves to prepare oneself for work, a fight, etc
- up one's sleeve secretly ready
- (tr) to provide with a sleeve or sleeves
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for sleeve
n.
Old English sliefe (West Saxon), slefe (Mercian) "arm-covering part of a garment," probably literally "that into which the arm slips," from Proto-Germanic *slaubjon (cf. Middle Low German sloven "to dress carelessly," Old High German sloufen "to put on or off"). Related to Old English slefan, sliefan "to slip on (clothes)" and slupan "to slip, glide," from PIE root *sleubh- "to slide, slip."
Cf. slipper, Old English slefescoh "slipper," slip (n.) "woman's garment," and expression to slip into "to dress in"). Mechanical sense is attested from 1864. To have something up one's sleeve is recorded from c.1500 (large sleeves formerly doubled as pockets). Meaning "the English Channel" translates French La Manche.
Idioms and Phrases with sleeve
sleeve
see card up one's sleeve; laugh up one's sleeve; roll up one's sleeves; wear one's heart on one's sleeve.