give the shirt off back
give (someone) the shirt off (one's) back
To act in a very generous and selfless manner. I'm not surprised that Tammy loaned you money—she would give anyone the shirt off her back.
See also: back, give, off, shirt
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
give someone the shirt off one's back
Fig. to give anything that is asked for, no matter the sacrifice required. Tom would give any of his old army buddies the shirt off his back. You can always count on Mark when you're in trouble; he'd give you the shirt off his back.
See also: back, give, off, shirt
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
give the shirt off one's back, to
To give one’s all; the ultimate in generosity. This hyperbole appeared in Tobias Smollett’s novel of 1771, Humphry Clinker, and has been employed ever since. Elinor Wylie used it in her ironic poem “Portrait in Black Paint”: “She’d give the shirt from off her back except that she doesn’t wear a shirt.”
See also: give, off, shirt
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- come back and see us
- back
- back at (something or some place)
- be/go back to square one
- a while back
- back door
- back to square one
- back over
- back over (someone or something)
- be back on the rails