The term wife-beater reportedly became synonymous for an undershirt after a 1947 criminal case where a Detroit man was arrested for beating his wife to death, and newspapers printed a photo of the "wife beater" wearing a stained undershirt.
If you own what is officially known as an A-shirt or an A-style tank top, you probably call it by a different name. This type of shirt is much more commonly referred to as a wife beater shirt, a wife beater tank top, or simply a wife beater.
Wife-beater, wifebeater, or wife beater is a slang term for a man who commits domestic violence, particularly against his spouse or long term female partner.
Many cite Marlon Brando's portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in the movie “A Streetcar Named Desire” as inspiration for the term. He wears a sleeveless shirt and rages, yells, rapes his sister-in-law and hits his wife, Stella. (In Britain, the Belgian beer Stella Artois is sometimes called a “wife beater,” not the shirt.)
It's certainly insensitive. The term somewhat trivializes spousal abuse, which is no laughing matter. As far as who it would or wouldn't be appropriate around, you never know. Those who are beaten frequently don't advertise it, nor do wife beaters.
In the South West of WA we also call the full strength alcohol beer (Emu Export) "wife basher" as is commonly associated with our very own version of trailer trash. Also, wifebeater. Contributor's comments: In WA one of the local beers is known as "wifebeater", ie "Give us a carton of wifebeater."
The term wife-beater reportedly became synonymous for an undershirt after a 1947 criminal case where a Detroit man was arrested for beating his wife to death, and newspapers printed a photo of the "wife beater" wearing a stained undershirt.
It was intended as an undergarment, to keep sweat from damaging men's dress shirts. However, for working-class men who couldn't afford enough dress shirts to wear every day, A-shirts flew solo as a cheap alternative to simply going shirtless. The origin of the term “wifebeater” is exactly as horrific as it sounds.
What is a wife beater called in UK? In the UK, especially when used as an undershirt, it is known as a vest (compare the American usage of vest).
«But it was really in regions of southern Italy, such as Napoli and Sicily, where warm weather, economic modesty, and Italian machismo converged, that the tank top truly began its evolution from underwear to outerwear.
Tank tops were first popularized in modern Western fashion during the early 20th century as a part of bathing suits for both genders, which, at the time, covered the torso with a sleeveless, low-cut top (the name is thought to derive from “tank suits,” as swimming pools were commonly referred to as tanks in England).
Undershirt Anatomy
Unlike t-shirts, undershirts are cut to fit very close, almost like a second skin. This is because you want the other layers of your outfit to fit you properly, and a t-shirt with a looser fit would spoil the lines of well-fitting outer layers.
Wife beater here does not mean anything violent. Instead, it is the slang phrase for a vest or tank top, typically white in colour. The term came about due to the item's association with the stereotype of abusive men, but feminists adopted have since adopted the garment as their own — to hell with the man.
Brand image
At least since the early 21st century, Stella Artois has carried the nickname of the "wife beater" in the United Kingdom, due to a perceived connection between binge drinking involving the brand and domestic violence against women.
Nelson Mandela- meaning Stella Artois, a Belgian lager known simply as Stella, people usually say either Nelson or Mandela, but don't use both word together very often.
It has an especially bad reputation in the U.K.
In the U.K., Stella is associated with binge drinking and aggressive behavior. This is allegedly due to its higher-than-average ABV. It has a violent, misogynist nickname that it's trying desperately to shake.
But in the years that have passed since the term “wife beater” was coined, the tank top has evolved into an article of clothing more and more infrequently worn by men. As of 2021, sleeveless ribbed tank tops are far more often sported by young women.
With the right fit, it's snug to the upper torso and covers the important areas without crowding and tightening up in the underarm area like a T-shirt. Its shape means that it doesn't do much to absorb perspiration, but it also doesn't create sweat because of its sleeveless design.
Trackie dacks are tracksuit trousers, and underdacks are underpants or knickers.
Sheila = Girl
Yes, that is the Australian slang for girl.
Aussie Word of the Week
A sheila is a woman. In use since the 1830s, sheila has its origin in a generic use of the common Irish girl's name.
Becky is a pejorative American slang term for a young White woman.
I call it camiseta. However, I have heard some other people who call it tubo (for me it is a strapless shirt).
slang. to do poorly or decline rapidly; fail. The movie tanked at the box office.