On Tenterhooks

On Tenterhooks
SHAWL, TO SPORT A: The name given to this fashion accessory has
never altered since it was first introduced. Originally, a shawl was a piece of
Kashmiri woven cloth made from Tibetan goat hair.
SHEARS, KNIGHT OF THE: A quaint name for a tailor.
SHEET, STAND IN A WHITE: An expression which describes someone
who is obliged to dress in a white sheet while asking for public forgiveness.
SHEET, TO WEAR THE WHITE: A Roman Catholic custom obliging a
person to wear a white sheet as part of a penance for some crime he or she
has committed.
SHIRT, BLACK: Originally, this was a shirt worn by Mussolini's Fascist
supporters in Italy (1919-43). It was later adopted and widely used by
English Fascists led by Oswald Mosley (1896-1980). "Black shirts" was
also the nickname given to the German SS or Schulzstaffel led by Heinrich
Himmler (1900-45).
SHIRT, LOSE YOUR: An expression which signifies that a gambler is in
danger of leaving a card game with nothing - not even his shirt!
Lose your Shirt
SHIRT, TO BE A RED: This refers to the colour of a shirt adopted by the
famous Italian patriot and revolutionist Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82)
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