Lose your shirt
Meaning
To lose a large sum of money, often to the point of financial ruin, typically through a bad investment or gambling.
Origin
Imagine a desperate gambler in a smoky 19th-century backroom, throwing down his last coin, then his watch, then his coat, and finally, in a fit of despair or a last-ditch effort, literally stripping the shirt off his back to use as a stake. This vivid image of a man stripped bare by his losses—left with nothing, not even his most basic garment—became a powerful metaphor for utter financial ruin. The phrase captures the raw vulnerability and complete destitution of losing everything, leaving one exposed and penniless.
Examples
- He risked everything on that cryptocurrency and ended up losing his shirt when the market crashed.
- After a disastrous night at the casino, she realized she had truly lost her shirt, leaving with nothing but a few dollars.