Usually refers to any style of (usually) tight-fitting cotton shirts primarily worn by men as undershirts. Any of the types of white t-shirt or tank top that you can usually find sold in packages by the men's underwear can be classfied as a wifebeater.
While the "wifebeater" is worn primarily by men -- and presumably got the name because it is most often depicted as being worn as outerwear by men who beat their wives -- lots of women have taken to wearing them too. This is particularly true in the case of the cotton ribbed tank top, which can now be found sold as outerwear for women as well as men, and which can also be found in several other colors besides white.
While the "wifebeater" is worn primarily by men -- and presumably got the name because it is most often depicted as being worn as outerwear by men who beat their wives -- lots of women have taken to wearing them too. This is particularly true in the case of the cotton ribbed tank top, which can now be found sold as outerwear for women as well as men, and which can also be found in several other colors besides white.
Yuck ... see that dude in the wifebeater over there? His chest hair is, like, sticking out all over the place!
by Trish June 27, 2009
Pseudonym for a brand of strong lager called Stella Artois, sometimes associated with after closing-hours physical activity.
by Steve Butler June 21, 2003
In Australian slang, "wifebeater" always referred to a dark blue singlet, such as is typically worn by truckers. It's only recently that we in Australia have heard the word coming from other parts of the world, and elsewhere it refers to a white singlet.
Tommo, the landscaper, was clomping about the backyard in his big blundstones, stubbies and a wifebeater.
by Daru April 18, 2007
White, ribbed, skin-tight tank top, most excellent for showing off a dude's pecs, shoulders, arms, underarms, armpit hair, and natural B.O. Leaves a sweet tan line when worn on a summer day.
by Dylan Dude November 16, 2007
1) Someone who beats his wife is a "wifebeater" but this isn't the main definition of the word when used to define an article of clothing.
2) The main definition for Slang Urban purposes A type of sleeveless undershirt, of the kind that used to be worn by almost all men in the 50's. If you watch the HBO Drama The Sopranos, you'll see Tony (the lead character) wearning this type of undershirt.
Also has associations with slovenly, unkempt, sloppy, etc. Someone who just woke up and hasn't combed their hair or washed up and appears at the door in a wifebeater shirt, scratching themselves, is a stereotypical picture that comes to mind.
This sleeveless undershirt with a deep round neck and deep arm openings has acquired the connotation of an article of clothing worn by someone who beats his wife -- perhaps because of the unkempt, slovenly nature of the garment when worn alone on a middle aged man with a gut, sitting in an easy chair, scatching at himself and demanding to be waited upon lest he smack around the person waiting on him.
3) The same shirt, worn as daywear or nightwear by slender young women as a kind of fashion statement. Meg Ryan has worn them in movies, as have other stars/starlets -- not typically worn by a well-endowed woman, it is considered cool for a woman (who can get away with it and looks good) to wear this type of undergarment as an outergarment.
Note: It wouldn't be called a wifebeater when worn by a woman, for obvious reasons. It would just be another instance of a woman wearing typically male clothing and looking better in it than the guy does. ;)
2) The main definition for Slang Urban purposes A type of sleeveless undershirt, of the kind that used to be worn by almost all men in the 50's. If you watch the HBO Drama The Sopranos, you'll see Tony (the lead character) wearning this type of undershirt.
Also has associations with slovenly, unkempt, sloppy, etc. Someone who just woke up and hasn't combed their hair or washed up and appears at the door in a wifebeater shirt, scratching themselves, is a stereotypical picture that comes to mind.
This sleeveless undershirt with a deep round neck and deep arm openings has acquired the connotation of an article of clothing worn by someone who beats his wife -- perhaps because of the unkempt, slovenly nature of the garment when worn alone on a middle aged man with a gut, sitting in an easy chair, scatching at himself and demanding to be waited upon lest he smack around the person waiting on him.
3) The same shirt, worn as daywear or nightwear by slender young women as a kind of fashion statement. Meg Ryan has worn them in movies, as have other stars/starlets -- not typically worn by a well-endowed woman, it is considered cool for a woman (who can get away with it and looks good) to wear this type of undergarment as an outergarment.
Note: It wouldn't be called a wifebeater when worn by a woman, for obvious reasons. It would just be another instance of a woman wearing typically male clothing and looking better in it than the guy does. ;)
There goes Anthony answering the door in his wifebeater; you'd think with the gut on him that he'd realize it doesn't look good.
"Take that off right now! You look awful; like a wifebeater/gangster or an unkempt homeless person in that greying old sleeveless undershirt!"
She's slender and in good shape; that slightly snug sleeveless undershirt (wifebeater) she's wearing looks great on her.
"Take that off right now! You look awful; like a wifebeater/gangster or an unkempt homeless person in that greying old sleeveless undershirt!"
She's slender and in good shape; that slightly snug sleeveless undershirt (wifebeater) she's wearing looks great on her.
by WSafirewannabe April 20, 2004
A British and Irish Slang term for "Stella Artois" Lager.
Comes frm a scene in "A streetcar named Desire" wherin the main character calls after his wife "stella" after violently beating her.
Comes frm a scene in "A streetcar named Desire" wherin the main character calls after his wife "stella" after violently beating her.
by Richard Arundell October 9, 2006
Proper Noun: Strong lager, esp. Stella Artois with a tendency to induce wife-beating in the drinker. If the drinker is unmarried, this takes the form of generally directed rage.
by Hoffman, Flanners, Tom June 18, 2004