General
glad rags
What does glad rags mean?
One's best clothes, worn for a special occasion or a night on the town.
"Put on your glad rags, we're going dancing."
Origin
Early 20th-century American and British slang for one's best clothes, well established by the 1920s and recorded in period slang glossaries. 'Glad' carried the sense of festive or celebratory, as in the contemporary 'glad eye'.
Frequently asked questions
What are glad rags?
They are your best or fanciest clothes, worn for going out or celebrating.
Where did glad rags come from?
It is early 1900s slang, popular through the 1920s, using 'glad' in the sense of festive or merry.
Is glad rags still used?
Occasionally, as a playful or old-fashioned way to say 'dress up'.
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