Keep Your Shirt On: Staying Cool Under Pressure 😎
Keep your shirt on - Remain calm and patient; don’t lose your temper. Dating from the nineteenth century, this American expression refers to the practice of a man removing his shirt before a fight, lest it get torn, and at first literally meant not to rush into a fight. “Tell E. Stanton to keep his undergarmints on,” wrote Artemus Ward (In Washington, 1863). Later it came to mean being patient as well.
Fun Synonyms & Antonyms
- Synonyms: Hold your horses, Cool your jets, Take it easy, Chill out, Stay calm
- Antonyms: Lose your cool, Blow your top, Fly off the handle, Hit the roof
Humor-Filled Quotes
“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” - Joyce Meyer
“Sometimes I worry about the safety of my shirt because I can’t always keep my cool.”
Idioms from Around the World
- British: Keep your pecker up
- Spanish: Mantén la calma (Keep the calm)
- Chinese: 保持冷静 (Bǎochí lěngjìng) - Stay calm
Proverbs & Expressions
- “Good things come to those who wait.” - English Proverb
- “Idle person is the devil’s workshop.” - Proverbs 16:27
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Books: “Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames” by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Movies: “Anger Management” directed by Peter Segal
- Songs: “Take It Easy” by Eagles
Quizzes to Keep Your Mind Sharp!
### Which of these phrases means to keep calm?
- [x] Keep your shirt on
- [ ] Keep your shoes on
- [ ] Keep your hat on
- [ ] Keep your pants on
> **Explanation:** "Keep your shirt on" is the idiom that means to remain calm and not lose your temper. It originates from the idea of not rushing into a fight.
### True or False: 'Blow your top' means to stay calm.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Blow your top" means to lose your temper, which is the opposite of staying calm.
### Which idiom means the same as "keep your shirt on"?
- [ ] Hit the roof
- [x] Cool your jets
- [ ] Go bananas
- [ ] Fly off the handle
> **Explanation:** "Cool your jets" is another way of saying "keep your shirt on," as both suggest staying calm and patient.
### Which expression advises patience through the promise of good outcomes?
- [ ] Money won’t grow
- [ ] Break the ice
- [x] Good things come to those who wait
- [ ] Step on it
> **Explanation:** "Good things come to those who wait" is a proverb suggesting that patience will eventually lead to positive results.
Authored with a cool, calm demeanor by L. I. Mann. Remember, patience might be a virtue, but it’s also a superpower!
