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Glite Dictionary
off-the-shoulder

off-the-shoulder

3 4.3
Not covering the shoulders and leaving them bare in a dress or top
  • adjective
  • /ˌɔf ðə ˈʃoʊldər/
translation icon : sin mangas
  • She wore a beautiful off-the-shoulder dress that highlighted her collarbone.
  • off-the-shoulder dress
  • off-the-shoulder gown
  • off-the-shoulder blouse

It's just a little crop top with long sleeves so it's off the shoulders.

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Examples

  • She's leaning against a wall in an off-the-shoulder dress.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • She was wearing a white, off-the-shoulder wool dress.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I do love a little off the shoulder situation.

  • And now off the shoulder tops.

    Sierra Schultzzie

  • And then I have this super crazy soft cloud off the shoulder sweater in white.

  • So it's an off the shoulder kind of frilly top.

  • This little off the shoulder top, how cute is that little gingham number?

    Zoella

  • Our next one is an off the shoulder trench coat.

  • I changed into a black off-the-shoulder bodysuit with long sleeves and a tight black and white striped skirt.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • An off-the-shoulder neckline will keep the attention on your upper body, and an A-line gown is always a flattering choice.

    Blog text (22)

Synonyms

strapless
vsoff-the-shoulder
10 3.9

Clothes that have no straps over the shoulders

leaves the shoulders bare through a wide neckline

How Revealing

backless
5 3.7
strapless
10 3.9
off-the-shoulder
3 4.3
crew neck
1 2.1

Surface Forms

off-the-shoulder positive

Morphology

off-the-shoulder = shoulder (semi-transparent) = off + shoulder

The components 'off' and 'shoulder' are clear, but the specific fashion style meaning is not directly derivable. [Postprocessing: moved 'off' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Off-the-shoulder is a very literal phrase made from off meaning 'not on' and shoulder meaning 'the top of the arm where clothes sit'. So, an off-the-shoulder top sits 'off' the shoulders and leaves them 'bare', which is why the phrase means clothing that does not cover the shoulders.