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tailor

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introduce the shoemaker to the tailor

To kick someone in the buttocks. Primarily heard in UK. If you don't leave me alone, I'll introduce the shoemaker to the tailor!

See also: introduce, tailor

nine tailors make a man

1. A phrase spoken after the custom of ringing church bells for a deceased male. The number of times the bells rang traditionally indicated the deceased person's sex, with a male receiving nine "tellers," or tolls, of the bell. A: "Did you hear the bells ringing?" B: "I did. Nine tailors make a man."

2. The phrase was also used to mock tailors as frail and ineffectual, in comparison to the average man. You will certainly best him in a duel. He's a tailor, after all, and nine tailors make a man!

See also: make, man, nine, tailor

made to measure

[of clothing] made especially to fit the measurements of a particular person. Jack has his suits made to measure because he's rather large. Having clothes made to measure is rather expensive.

See also: made, measure

tailor someone or something to someone or something

to fit or revise someone or something to fit someone or something. The coach tailored his defensive team to the opposition. We can tailor service to your company very easily. I will tailor this suit to your specifications for no extra charge.

See also: tailor

tailor-made for somebody/something

particularly suited to someone or something Business schools are offering courses tailor-made for a firm's executives. The contest was tailor-made for Alexander, who was not well known and had little funding.

be tailor-made

to be completely suitable for someone or something (usually + for ) The role of Emma was tailor-made for her.

tailor-made

specially made for a particular purpose (often + for ) Business schools are offering courses tailor-made for a firm's executives.

made to measure

Also, tailor-made. Fashioned to fit a particular need or purpose, very suitable. For example, Jane finds her new position is made to measure for her, or This bridge club is tailor-made for Max. Originally referring to clothes made to fit a particular person very precisely, these terms have been used figuratively since the mid-1900s. Also see made to order.

See also: made, measure

tailor-made

n. a machine-made cigarette. (From an expression for something, such as an article of clothing, that is custom made.) They used to call these things tailor-made, meaning professionally made, as opposed to homemade.