little black dress
7
3.3
- noun
- /ˈlɪtəl blæk drɛs/
:
vestido negro corto
- "How about my new little black dress?"
- the perfect little black dress
- a sexy little black dress
- a classic little black dress
Yes, I do see myself in, you know, a little black dress and slinky tops.
- Yes, I do see myself in, you know, a little black dress and slinky tops.
- I got this little black dress which you know, who doesn't love a little black dress?
- And then I also got this little black dress.
- In the end, that little black dress by Chanel is more her idea of a certain way of life.
Examples
-
Every woman knows the importance of the one must-have item in her closet: the little black dress.
Blog text (31) -
In the market, I saw this perfect little black dress.
Fiction book (1996) -
Well, just go with a little black dress.
-
Is that what this little black dress is about?
-
"I like your new little black dress just fine."
Fiction book (2002) -
I wore a little black dress and sheer black nylons.
Fiction book (2000) -
For the longest time, my go-to dress for any special occasion would always be some sort of little black dress.
Blog text (9) -
Fashion historians ascribe the origins of the little black dress to the 1920s designs of Chanel.
Blog text (13) -
Paula smiles, moves over to a chair, and grabs a little black dress hanging neatly over it.
Fiction book (2000) -
For the evening, I found the perfect little black dress with a jacket to match.
Synonyms
26
1.0
A dress that is black and often worn for formal or special occasions
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'little' + 'black' + 'dress', so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer it denotes a small/simple black dress. The broader cultural sense of a versatile, elegant garment for many occasions is an expected pragmatic inference from that compositional meaning and this construction is cross-linguistically common, making it transparently understandable.
Etymology
Little black dress may come from the 1920s when designer Coco Chanel made a short, plain black dress that was easy to wear and match. Because the dress was small (little), plain (black) and useful for many events, it became a 'staple' in wardrobes, so today little black dress means a simple, elegant dress you can wear for many occasions.