AndyJoy Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Without Googling, do you know the meaning of "dressing down", as in the sentence, "He received a public dressing down." DH (age 30) said this at work today and was surprised to find that all 7 of his coworkers (aged 22-45) were baffled at his meaning and claimed to have never heard that phrase. Has it fallen out of use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Well, as an American I'm only familiar with it from books and fanfics set in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know what it means, but I have no idea if other people do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoutingmom Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know it... Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know what it means. I've only heard it used by people from either the military or east coast, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharonM Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I heard it a lot growing up. Western Washington. Small town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 To me, it is a common term (not widely used, but not uncommon), that most people within 10 years of my age would know. I am not overly educated and know the term, so I would expect others to also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know what it means and would expect people to know what it means. But I generally assume people know everything I know and am surprised when they don't. I guess that's rather narcissistic of me. ;) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Sure. Pretty common phrase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momma2three Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm 36 and think of it as a common phrase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 My hubby taught our boys what dressing down means a few years ago. It was commonly used when we were kids in the 70s-80s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I haven't heard it used in awhile. Upbraid, chew out, ream, those are what I hear orally more often. Perhaps it is not in vogue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yes, I'm familiar with the term, mostly from my time in the military but I think my mom used it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm in the under 30 crowd and am familiar with it. I didn't think it was that obscure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know what it means and would expect people to know what it means. But I generally assume people know everything I know and am surprised when they don't. I guess that's rather narcissistic of me. ;)Haha. I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know it, but I have read more than the average American. I don't know if I've ever heard it on popular media or in "real life." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 yes - I know what it means. yes - I've seen it used at large. yes - I've associated with those who've used it. reminds me of the time a friend used the word "fungible" in a class, and only dh laughed at the context. and dressing down is far more common than fungible . . . . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I give up. apparently, emotcons wipe out my entire post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Sure. It seems like a fairly common phrase to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aiden Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I think it's a pretty common phrase, and in context, I understand it. However, when I read only the title of the thread, my first thought was in regard to wardrobe--"dressing down" as opposed to "dressing up." Think versatile clothes--you can dress it up by adding sparkly jewelry and heels, or dress it down by adding a scarf and boots. I think that's the more common usage now, at least among my circles. Maybe that isn't the more common widespread usage, though, since no one else has mentioned it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I think it's a pretty common phrase, and in context, I understand it. However, when I read only the title of the thread, my first thought was in regard to wardrobe--"dressing down" as opposed to "dressing up." Think versatile clothes--you can dress it up by adding sparkly jewelry and heels, or dress it down by adding a scarf and boots. I think that's the more common usage now, at least among my circles. Maybe that isn't the more common widespread usage, though, since no one else has mentioned it. I thought of this meaning at first glance. I know what it means, but I haven't heard it used in conversation in a long time. Similar terms would be more often used. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 From the title I also went to clothes. But I also know what it means in a business setting. Although I have not heard it used in a work related setting for quite awhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 It was used quite a bit when I was growing up. Most adults in my area would probably know what it meant. I wouldn't really expect people younger than me to know because I don't hear it used much any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yes, I know what it means (I'm 52). L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yes, I know what it means, and I've used it occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yes I know it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah CB Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Without Googling, do you know the meaning of "dressing down", as in the sentence, "He received a public dressing down." DH (age 30) said this at work today and was surprised to find that all 7 of his coworkers (aged 22-45) were baffled at his meaning and claimed to have never heard that phrase. Has it fallen out of use? I know the meaning, but dh is a lawyer and I think it might come up more in legal circles? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know what it means but can't remember the last time I heard or read it anywhere. I wouldn't say it's commonly used at all now, so I can see why people would be unfamiliar with the phrase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know it and have heard it used. Though, thinking about it, less often by younger people. I'm 39 and live in eastern Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaKim Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yep. I've "always" known it, though it isn't actually used around here. Probably learned it from books or TV at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Without Googling, do you know the meaning of "dressing down", as in the sentence, "He received a public dressing down." DH (age 30) said this at work today and was surprised to find that all 7 of his coworkers (aged 22-45) were baffled at his meaning and claimed to have never heard that phrase. Has it fallen out of use? Yes, I do. I haven't heard it used in a long time, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Without Googling, do you know the meaning of "dressing down", as in the sentence, "He received a public dressing down." DH (age 30) said this at work today and was surprised to find that all 7 of his coworkers (aged 22-45) were baffled at his meaning and claimed to have never heard that phrase. Has it fallen out of use? . I did not know that was a British idiom. I'm very familiar with the usage in the military where it seeed to be very common. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm 37 and I know what it means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yes, I'm familiar with the term, mainly through reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelenNotOfTroy Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know it, but I can't remember the last time I ran across it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tm919 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm familiar with it, but I don't really use it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigomama Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm familiar with it from books. I don't think I've ever heard anyone use it IRL. (I'm mid-30s from the West Coast) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I knew what it meant. I'm from the American SW and have heard it used here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albeto. Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Very familiar with it. And now I know what "getting a bollocking" means, too. ^_^ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm familiar with it, but not sure from where. Then again, I'm Canadian which likely has a bit more familiarity with British expressions. I would also not be surprised to here someone use the term to describe going out in workout or grubby clothes, though, as in the opposite of "dressing up". I've never HEARD anyone say that.... but I can imagine someone using it in that context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know what it means and have used it and heard it used in conversation. I don't consider it to be a 'British' saying though, just an expression. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know the term. I'd not expect to hear it in a working class setting outside the military, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Yes, I know what it means and I've heard it only outside military settings (I've not been around military people much in my life). However, I can't say I've heard it used in recent years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Without Googling, do you know the meaning of "dressing down", as in the sentence, "He received a public dressing down." DH (age 30) said this at work today and was surprised to find that all 7 of his coworkers (aged 22-45) were baffled at his meaning and claimed to have never heard that phrase. Has it fallen out of use? Why, yes I do. I'm constantly amazed at the things that people in online groups have never heard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I know it. I'm surprised his co-workers didn't. I would assume it was just one of those things floating around in the general knowledge pool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I also know the meaning; however, I can't recall ever hearing it spoken. I'm far more accustomed to reading it. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I know. I think the youngster were all just putting up a unified front. Honestly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Yes We are familiar with it. it is an expression that is used in Australia. ds19 and ds18 for one last night. DH took them outside for it- The whole neighborhood was certainly entertained. Biggest trouble they have ever been in in their whole life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I know what it means and have used it before - a fine expression! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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