Meaning of straight shirttail | Babel Free

Definitions

A very hurried journey or movement, especially in return to a previous location; a dash.

US, dated

Examples

“The other boat closed with them. They had seen the seal basking on a low rock, but he was wary, and as soon as they came in sight, he flounced off the rock into the water, and made 'straight shirt-tails,' as the Yankees say, Allan taking a snap shot at him just ere he did so; but whether he had struck, grazed, or merely frightened the seal he could hardly tell.”

“An' he made the funniest noise, tryin' to git his breath; kind of a 'w-e-e-k'—like a fat hog choked on an apple. Then he took a straight shirttail fer the open air; an' gittin' outside, he leaned up ag'inst the wall an' commenced to cry.”

“The chairman had difficulty preserving order. One man said of their guest from Missouri: "I'll advise him to make a straight shirt tail for Missouri."”

CEFR level