keep your shirt on
Meaning
Stay calm and be patient; don’t get angry, excited, or upset.
Origin
From the image of someone getting so angry they’re ready to fight and might strip off their shirt; telling them to keep it on became a way to mean “calm down.” Attested in US English by the mid-20th century.
Notes
Spoken, often a bit blunt or teasing. It can sound dismissive or patronizing, so be careful with tone and with superiors.
Examples
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Keep your shirt on—we’re already working on fixing the issue.
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Hey, keep your shirt on; the bus will be here in a minute.
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If you’d keep your shirt on and listen, you’d understand what happened.
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Keep your shirt on, okay? There’s no need to get angry over a small mistake.
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I told him to keep his shirt on, but he was still furious about the delay.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually an imperative: “Keep your shirt on.” Possessive can vary (my/his/her/their). Often used alone or with “just”: “Just keep your shirt on.”
Synonyms
- calm down
- relax
- take it easy
- hold your horses
- keep your hair on
Antonyms
- calm down
- keep your cool