Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes: Idiom Meaning and Origin

What does ‘Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes’ mean?

The idiom "Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes" refers to one's best or finest clothing, typically worn on special or formal occasions, such as going to church. It implies dressing up to show respect or make a good impression.

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Sunday Chic

I will do laundry on Sunday.

The idiom "Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes" has its origins in American English. It is commonly used to refer to one's best or most formal attire, typically worn for special occasions or events. There are a few theories about the origin of this idiom. One theory suggests that the idiom is derived from the practice of dressing up in one's best clothes for church on Sundays. Individuals would often wear their finest garments to show respect and reverence. Another theory proposes that the idiom may have originated from the tradition of wearing formal clothing for meetings or gatherings that took place specifically on Sundays. People would dress in their best clothes as a sign of respect and decorum. The idiom is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts to denote dressing up formally for any special occasion, not necessarily limited to religious or Sunday-related events. The idiom has also undergone some variations in usage, such as "Sunday clothes" or "Sunday best," which convey the same meaning without explicitly referencing a religious or Sunday context. The idiom "Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes" exemplifies the colorful and metaphorical nature of idiomatic expressions in the English language, capturing the cultural and historical significance of dressing up in one's finest attire.

Example usage

Examples of how the idiom *Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes* can be used in a sentence:

  1. He always dresses in his Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes for important business meetings.
  2. She wore her best Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes to the wedding.
  3. My grandmother always put on her Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes when she went to church.

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