threads
Informal slang for clothes, especially a stylish outfit or a new set of clothes.
By Cal Hewitt, Gen X · Researched from public sources · ·
What it actually means
Threads treats clothing as the material from which it is made, then uses that material word for the finished garments. It can mean everyday clothes, but often carries an appreciative tone when someone is noticing an outfit. The plural noun is far older than social-media platform Threads and should not be confused with an online conversation thread.
See the quick definition in the threads dictionary entry.
Where it came from
The clothing sense is a metonym based on literal textile threads. The Oxford English Dictionary labels it slang, originally and chiefly U.S., and gives a 1926 citation for new set of threads. No individual coiner is known.
No single person is credited, the origin is well-documented.
Where it's popular
Originally and chiefly U.S. slang, also recognized in broader informal English.
Modern readers may first think of Meta’s Threads or online discussion threads, but the clothing sense predates both.
How it caught on
- 1926The OED records new set of threads as a U.S. slang use for clothes.
- 20th centuryThe plural continued as informal outfit and clothing vocabulary.
- 2020sThe Meta app and online discussion sense made disambiguation more necessary, while the clothing slang remained established.
How to use it
“Nice threads. Where did you get that jacket?”
Complimenting someone’s outfit.
“I need new threads before the event.”
Referring to clothes, especially a new outfit.
Common mix-ups
Threads does not originate from the social-media app, and it is not a misspelling of treads. The clothing sense is documented U.S. slang from 1926 and comes from literal textile threads.
Do you actually know it?
Follow the clothing thread
0/31. What does threads mean in the slang clothing sense?
2. What is the earliest OED attestation noted for this slang sense?
3. Why did clothes come to be called threads?
Related slang
Questions people ask
What does threads mean in slang?
It means clothes or an outfit, often with an emphasis on stylish attire.
Where did threads meaning clothes come from?
It is a metonym from the threads used to make fabric; the OED documents the slang clothing sense in U.S. English in 1926.
Is threads related to the Meta app?
No. The clothing slang is much older and separate from the app and from an online discussion thread.
The OED’s 1926 example is already almost exactly how the phrase is used now: new set of threads.
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