drip-dry
C1Informal, somewhat dated (peak usage mid-late 20th century).
Definition
Meaning
A type of clothing or fabric that dries without needing to be ironed, or the process of letting it dry hanging up.
To let something (usually fabric) dry by hanging it up, relying on air drying rather than a tumble dryer. Can be used metaphorically to describe a no-fuss, easy-maintenance process or person.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as an adjective for fabrics/clothing. The verb form is less common. The concept is less discussed today with modern synthetic fabrics, making it feel slightly old-fashioned.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term. The concept might be slightly more familiar to older generations in the UK due to historical differences in household appliance ownership.
Connotations
In both, it can connote practicality, convenience, and sometimes cheapness or lack of formality (e.g., a drip-dry shirt might not be as high quality as one requiring ironing).
Frequency
Low frequency in contemporary speech in both regions, found more in written descriptions on clothing labels or in older texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] drip-dries.Drip-dry [Object].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms; the term itself is descriptive]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in manufacturing or retail descriptions of garment properties.
Academic
Very rare. Not a technical term in linguistics or other core fields.
Everyday
Descriptive, used when discussing laundry, travel packing, or clothing care.
Technical
In textile and clothing technology, describing fabric treatments or care labels.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- After hand-washing, just drip-dry the jumper over the bath.
- The instructions clearly state to drip-dry the garment away from direct heat.
American English
- I'll just drip-dry this swimsuit on the deck.
- You should drip-dry that blouse to preserve the delicate fabric.
adverb
British English
- Hang the dress up to dry drip-dry.
- She washed the curtains and left them to hang drip-dry.
American English
- The shirt is designed to be washed and worn drip-dry.
- Dry the suit drip-dry to avoid any shrinkage.
adjective
British English
- He packed lightweight, drip-dry shirts for his backpacking trip.
- The hotel provided drip-dry towels that dried incredibly quickly.
American English
- For easy travel, she always buys drip-dry pants.
- The uniform is made from a practical, drip-dry polyester blend.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This shirt is drip-dry. You do not need to iron it.
- I prefer drip-dry clothes when I travel because they are easy to care for.
- The fabric's drip-dry properties make it ideal for activewear, as it's ready to wear again in no time.
- While the drip-dry feature was hailed as a revolutionary convenience in the 1960s, modern fabrics often combine it with stain-resistant technology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine water DRIPPing from clothes as they DRY on a line. The name tells you exactly what to do: let it drip until it's dry.
Conceptual Metaphor
EASE OF MAINTENANCE IS LACK OF INTERVENTION (drip-dry clothing requires no ironing, i.e., no extra work).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'капать-сухой'. The concept is 'не требующий глажки' (not requiring ironing) or 'сушится на вешалке' (dries on a hanger).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'This is a drip-dry') instead of an adjective ('This shirt is drip-dry').
- Confusing with 'tumble dry' which uses machine heat.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'drip-dry' as an adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's less common now. Terms like 'wrinkle-resistant', 'non-iron', or 'easy-care' are more frequently used on modern clothing labels.
Its core use is for textiles. Metaphorical use (e.g., a drip-dry solution) is possible but rare and informal.
'Drip-dry' emphasizes no ironing is needed after air-drying. 'Quick-dry' focuses solely on the speed of drying, often through evaporation, and may still wrinkle.
No. 'Drip-dry' refers to the drying method (hanging to air dry), not the washing process. The washing instructions on the garment's care label are separate.