washing-day
Definition
Noun:
- A specific day set aside for doing laundry: "washing-day" refers to the day of the week traditionally designated for washing clothes, especially in households before modern laundry facilities became common.
Usage Examples
- (A specific day for laundry.)
- (A day associated with the chore of washing clothes.)
- (The regular practice of doing laundry on a particular day.)
Advanced Usage
- "Washing-day" as a historical or cultural marker: The term often appears in literature and historical accounts to emphasize the domestic labor and schedule of past eras.
- In Jane Austen’s novels, washing-day is mentioned as a recurring household event. (A reference to daily life in the 19th century.)
- "Washing-day" in idiomatic expressions: Rarely used figuratively, but can imply a day of hard, repetitive work.
- Monday felt like a washing-day for the office, with everyone clearing overdue tasks. (A day of heavy, routine labor.)
Variants and Related Words
- Washday (n): an alternative spelling, more common in modern usage.
- Our washday is always Saturday. (A day for laundry.)
- Laundry day (n): a synonym, often used interchangeably.
- Laundry day is my least favorite day of the week. (The day designated for washing clothes.)
Synonyms
- Laundry day: the day on which laundry is done.
- Wash day: a variant spelling with the same meaning.
Related Idioms
- Not one’s washing-day: an old-fashioned expression meaning “not one’s usual day for doing laundry,” sometimes used humorously to suggest disorganization.
- He appeared in a wrinkled shirt, as if it were not his washing-day. (He looked unkempt, as if laundry were neglected.)