tailor

be tailor-made

1. Of clothing, to have been made specifically for someone by a tailor (and thus fit very well). Wow, they did a great job with the alterations—that gown looks like it was tailor-made for you! When you're as short as I am, it helps to have clothes that are tailor-made. I had to have this skirt tailor-made, but it's absolutely gorgeous and fits me perfectly, so it was worth the wait.

2. By extension, to be ideally suited for someone or something. I've never seen a happier couple than Tom and Anna—it's like they were tailor-made for each other! Don't worry, that math course is tailor-made for students majoring in the arts, so you're not expected to know advanced formulas or anything. My sister Jeanne is tailor-made for a career as a nurse—she can handle all that gross stuff, like blood and vomit, no problem!

introduce the shoemaker to the tailor

To kick someone in the buttocks. Primarily heard in UK. If you don't leave me alone, I'll introduce the shoemaker to the tailor! Kids, if you don't get moving, I'm gonna introduce the shoemaker to the tailor! We've got to get him out of the bar before he drunkenly introduces the shoemaker to the tailor and get us all in trouble.

See also: introduce, shoemaker, tailor, to

nine tailors make a man

1. A phrase spoken after the custom of ringing church bells for a deceased male. The number of times the bells rang traditionally indicated the deceased person's sex, with a male receiving nine "tellers," or tolls, of the bell. A: "Did you hear the bells ringing?" B: "I did. Nine tailors make a man."

2. The phrase was also used to mock tailors as frail and ineffectual, in comparison to the average man. You will certainly best him in a duel. He's a tailor, after all, and nine tailors make a man!

See also: make, man, nine, tailor

tailor (something) to (someone or something)

To change, adapt, or customize something so as to be correct or ideal for a particular person, thing, group, or situation. Because the entire program is online, we are able to tailor it to students from every walk of life. Our service tailors marketing strategies to businesses at an individual level, helping them realize their maximum potential.

See also: tailor, to

tailor-made

1. Of clothing, to have been made specifically for someone by a tailor (and thus fit very well). Wow, they did a great job with the alterations—that gown looks like it was tailor-made for you!

2. By extension, to be ideally suited for someone or something. I've never seen a happier couple than Tom and Anna—it's like they were tailor-made for each other! Don't worry, that math course is tailor-made for students majoring in the arts, so you're not expected to know advanced formulas or anything.

3. slang A cigarette that is machine-made, rather than hand-rolled. Don't you have any tailor-made smokes?

tailor-made for (someone or something)

Ideally suited for someone or something. I've never seen a happier couple than Tom and Anna—it's like they were tailor-made for each other! Don't worry, that math course is tailor-made for students majoring in the arts, so you're not expected to know advanced formulas or anything.

See also: for

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

made to measure

[of clothing] made especially to fit the measurements of a particular person. Jack has his suits made to measure because he's rather large. Having clothes made to measure is rather expensive.

See also: made, measure, to

tailor someone or something to someone or something

to fit or revise someone or something to fit someone or something. The coach tailored his defensive team to the opposition. We can tailor service to your company very easily. I will tailor this suit to your specifications for no extra charge.

See also: tailor, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

made to measure

Also, tailor-made. Fashioned to fit a particular need or purpose, very suitable. For example, Jane finds her new position is made to measure for her, or This bridge club is tailor-made for Max. Originally referring to clothes made to fit a particular person very precisely, these terms have been used figuratively since the mid-1900s. Also see made to order.

See also: made, measure, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tailor-made

n. a machine-made cigarette. (From an expression for something, such as an article of clothing, that is custom made.) They used to call these things tailor-made, meaning professionally made, as opposed to homemade.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.