naked as the day one was born
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Completely nude; without any clothing: This phrase describes a state of total nakedness, comparing it to the natural, unclothed condition of a human at the moment of birth. It emphasizes a complete absence of garments or coverings.
Usage
- This phrase is used as a predicate adjective, typically following a linking verb like "be" or "was." It is a vivid, idiomatic expression for describing complete nudity.
- It often carries a connotation of being natural, vulnerable, or exposed, and can be used in literal, humorous, or literary contexts.
Examples
- Adjective:
- After the wave knocked him over, he washed up on the beach, naked as the day he was born.
- The toddler ran through the sprinklers, as naked as the day he was born, laughing with joy.
- In the dream, I found myself standing in a crowded room, naked as the day I was born, and utterly embarrassed.
Advanced Usage
- "as naked as the day (that) one was born": The full comparative structure. The words "that" or "when" are often omitted in common usage.
- The sauna tradition requires you to be as naked as the day you were born.
- Used to emphasize a state of being stripped of all possessions, protections, or pretenses, not just clothing.
- After the bankruptcy, he felt naked as the day he was born, with nothing to his name.
Variants and Related Words
- In the buff (idiom, adj.): Completely naked.
- They decided to go swimming in the buff.
- In one's birthday suit (idiom, n.): A humorous phrase for being nude.
- The baby was crawling around in her birthday suit.
- Nude (adj.): A more formal or clinical term for being unclothed.
- The artist's model posed nude.
Synonyms
- Stark naked: Completely and obviously nude.
- Bare: Uncovered; can refer to body parts or a lack of adornment.
- Unclothed: Not wearing clothes; a neutral, descriptive term.
Related Phrases
- With nothing on: A simple, direct phrase meaning wearing no clothes.
- He answered the door with nothing on.
- In the altogether: An old-fashioned, informal idiom for being nude.
- The painting depicted the figures in the altogether.
Related Idioms
- Naked truth: The plain, unadorned truth without any lies or embellishment.
- He finally told me the naked truth about what happened.
- With one's pants down: To be caught in an embarrassing or vulnerable situation (not necessarily literal nudity).
- The surprise inspection caught the manager with his pants down.
Adjective
- as naked as at birth