glad rags

== English == === Alternative forms === gladrags === Etymology === US origin, late 19th c. === Pronunciation === === Noun === glad rags pl (plural only) (slang) Formal attire, dress clothes. Synonym: Sunday best 1896, Henry M. Blossom, Jr., Checkers: A Hard-luck Story, Grosset & Dunlap, page 39, “But say, you wouldn’t have known me if you’d seen me here with my wife that time—my glad rags on, a stove-pipe lid, patent leather kicks and a stone on my front. […] 1897 April, W. H. Carruth and Paul Wilkinson, "Dialect Word-List.—No. 4", in Kansas University Quarterly, Series B:—Philology and History, Volume VI, Number 2, University of Kansas, page 88, glad rags: “Sunday-go-to-meeting” clothes.—General. 1920, Helen Reimensnyder Martin, The Schoolmaster of Hessville, Doubleday, page 285, “[…] Or she’ll say, ‘Well, I must go now and put on my glad rags.’ Glad rags yet, John! Yes, that’s what she calls her best frock! Ain’t it funny? […]” 1935, Graham Greene, England Made Me, Penguin Classics (1992), →ISBN, page 83 ‘I bet you are busy,’ he said. He paused at the door: ‘I shall need some money for glad rags.’ ¶ ‘Glad rags?’ ¶ ‘White tie and the rest of it.’ 1959, Shelagh Delaney, A Taste of Honey, Grove Press, →ISBN, page 30, Helen: Help yourself to a drink, Peter, and I'll go and put my glad rags on. [Exit.] 2007, Brett Atkinson, Central Europe, Lonely Planet Publications, →ISBN, page 143, Brno has an excellent theater and classical music, and you’re expected to put your glad rags on. (slang) Stylish clothing. 1969, Iceberg Slim, Mama Black Widow: A Story of the South’s Black Underworld, Holloway House Publishing (2004), →ISBN, page 183, Lock Jaw said, “Bessie, how would you like to get dressed up in a grand worth of glad rags and go to a fancy blowout with me?” 2002, Judith Clarke, Wolf on the Fold, Front Street, →ISBN, pages 41–42, ‘She might forget,’ said Clightie. ‘You know how she does. While she's in there putting her glad rags on; she might come out, all dressed up, and not remember what she’s dressed up for.’ 2007, Anthony Ham and Alison Bing, Morocco, Lonely Planet Publications, →ISBN, page 85, Put on your glad rags and git down with the in-crowd at Casablanca’s hip Boulevard de la Corniche (p101) === References === === Anagrams === laggards