blouse
B1General / Everyday, Fashion
Definition
Meaning
A loose-fitting, often lightweight upper garment for women or girls, typically stopping at the waist or hips, with buttons down the front and a collar.
Can also refer to a loosely fitting overgarment, like a smock, worn to protect clothing, or more generally to any loose, baggy upper garment. In British military context, refers to the uniform tunic. As a verb, it means to make (a garment) full or hang in loose folds.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term 'blouse' distinguishes women's upper garments from men's 'shirts' based on cut and style, though the line is increasingly blurred in modern fashion. Implies a degree of formality between a casual T-shirt and a formal shirt.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, a 'blouse' is almost exclusively a woman's garment. In some contexts in American English, 'blouse' can be used, though rarely, for a loose men's or boy's shirt, or a uniform tunic.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly gendered as feminine. In UK, the term is very standard for a smart women's top. In US, 'top' is a more common superordinate term, with 'blouse' specifying a more formal, often buttoned style.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English, where it is the default term for a non-casual women's upper garment. In US English, the word 'top' is often used more broadly, with 'blouse' reserved for specific, often dressier styles.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + wear + a + [Adjective] + blouse[Subject] + tuck + [Possessive] + blouse + into + [Object][Subject] + button + up + [Possessive] + blouseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Blouse it out (UK, informal, rare): to display something ostentatiously.”
- “Big girl's blouse (UK, informal, pejorative): a weak or ineffectual man.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Standard item in women's business or smart casual attire (e.g., 'She wore a crisp, white blouse to the interview').
Academic
Used in fashion, textiles, or cultural studies contexts.
Everyday
Very common when discussing women's clothing (e.g., 'I need to buy a new blouse for the party').
Technical
In garment manufacturing and pattern cutting, refers to a specific category of women's wear with defined construction features.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She bloused her smock over her belt for a more casual look.
- The parachute trousers are designed to blouse over the boots.
American English
- Regulations state that the shirt must be bloused over the trousers in this uniform.
- He bloused his tunic slightly to conceal the equipment.
adjective
British English
- The blouse style is very popular this season.
- She prefers a blouse silhouette to a fitted shirt.
American English
- We offer a blouse cut for a more relaxed fit.
- It's a blouse-like top, not a traditional shirt.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a red blouse.
- My mother bought a new blouse.
- She wore a smart silk blouse with her black trousers.
- Do you think this blouse goes with my skirt?
- The tailored blouse, with its French cuffs, was perfect for the business meeting.
- She deftly bloused the loose linen top into her high-waisted jeans.
- The designer's collection featured deconstructed blouses that challenged traditional notions of womenswear.
- Historically, the military blouse evolved from the civilian garment to become a standardised item of uniform.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A LOUSE is on the LOOSE in her BLOUSE.' Associates the sound and spelling.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'She bloused her top over her trousers').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate Russian 'блузка' as 'blouse' for every women's top. 'Blouse' in English often implies a smarter, buttoned style. For a casual T-shirt style top, use 'top' or 'T-shirt'. Russian 'кофта' is usually a 'cardigan', 'sweater', or 'jumper', not a blouse.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'blouse' to refer to a man's shirt. *'He wore a nice blue blouse.' (Incorrect, use 'shirt').
- Using 'blouse' for a very casual, tight-fitting top (e.g., a tank top).
- Pronouncing the final 's' as /s/ in British English (it is /z/).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'blouse' as a verb most appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In contemporary standard English, 'blouse' refers almost exclusively to garments for women and girls. Using it for a man's shirt would be incorrect or humorous.
A 'shirt' is a more general term for an upper garment with a collar, buttons, and often sleeves, and can be worn by any gender. A 'blouse' is a type of shirt, but the term is gendered (feminine) and often implies a more decorative, looser, or softer style than a standard tailored shirt.
In British English, it's pronounced /blaʊz/ (rhyming with 'houses'). In American English, it's most commonly /blaʊs/ (rhyming with 'mouse'), though /blaʊz/ is also heard.
Yes, while often associated with smarter wear, there are casual blouses made from materials like cotton or linen, with simpler designs. However, it is generally a step more formal than a T-shirt or vest.
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