What Does "Wear Yellow Stockings" Mean?
"Wear yellow stockings" is an English idiom. It is a reference to Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" where Malvolio is tricked into wearing yellow stockings to impress his love interest. It is used to describe a foolish or misguided action to gain favour or impress someone.Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "wear yellow stockings" used in a sentence:- Trying to flatter the boss in that way is like wearing yellow stockings; it'll backfire.
- He wore yellow stockings, metaphorically speaking, thinking it would earn him a promotion.
- She pulled a 'yellow stockings' move, thinking it would impress her date.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Wear Yellow Stockings" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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