seamy side, the

seamy side

The sordid or base aspect of something, as in This nightclub certainly shows you the seamy side of the community. This term refers to the wrong side of a garment, revealing the stitched seams. Shakespeare used it figuratively in Othello (4:2): "That turn'd your wit the seamy side without."
See also: seamy, side
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the ˈseamy side (of life, etc.)

the unpleasant, dishonest or immoral aspects (of life, etc.): It’s well known that the world of entertainment has its seamy side: drug abuse, corruption, alcoholism...
See also: seamy, side
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

seamy side, the

The unsavory or worst aspect. This expression alludes to the wrong side of a garment or other fabric, in which the stitched seams show. It was first transferred by Shakespeare, “He turn’d your wit the seamy side without” (Othello, 4.2), and has been used ever since to describe the unfavorable side of things.
See also: seamy
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • the far side
  • wave at
  • wave at (someone or something)
  • wave to (someone or something)
  • come down on the side of (someone or something)
  • come down/out on the side of somebody/something
  • take (one's) side
  • bob and weave
  • weave
  • come out on the side of (someone or something)