Wife beater

[María José]

In the OC the word wife beater is used to refer to the white sleeveless top worn by some men as a T-shirt but looking very much like a vest (underwear). An American friend of mine says he has never ever heard such a word. What about you?


P.S. This thread is just an excuse to post a picture of the gorgeous Benjamin Mckenzie.

[Rusty]

I've never heard that term myself, but this article confirms its usage as another name for an A-shirt (also a term I haven't heard).
I don't own any sleeveless shirts, so I haven't paid much attention to what they're called, except tank top.

(The picture needs to be uploaded (use Manage Attachments) so the rest of us can see it.)

[María José]

Thanks for telling me about the picture, Rusty. Here goes:

[bobjenkins]

El wife beater obtiene/recibe su nombre porque los hombres los cuales golpean sus esposas lleven camisetas parecidas, pero por supuesto se está estereotipando cuando se lo dice. Es un estereotipo negativo, y es muy grosero a unas personas. Lo siento si os ofendo

[ers074]

Yes wife beaters or just "beaters/a beater" are what they are called. They are commonly mispronounced as "white beaters" because they are white, but make no mistake its a wife beaters. In America these are really only worn if one is going to workout. Otherwise wearing wife beater makes one look very cheap and "trashy" and they are worn a lot by Mexican/Mexicans landscapers so it gives a bad image.

Tank top refers to any other sleeveless shirt

[CrOtALiTo]

It's playera sport at least in Mexico.

Even thought is t-shirt in U.S.A.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

hahahha, that´s so funny. I like this kind of underwear, I find it more confortable that the one with sleeves, but you have to know that I always wear them under a shirt or polo shirt.

[poli]

A wife beater is also known as a guinea tee, or more properly a tank top.
The word guinea is an old-fashioned but somewhat insulting term for Italian-Americans, but for some reason it's OK to say guinea tee. No one gets insulted.

[María José]

Thanks guys.
In general I don't like guys in wife beaters, but Benjamin McKenzie looks cute in anything...

[poli]

Les voy a decir que son cómodos. Las llevo yo, pero no sé si me hacen lucir cute o muy chabacano.
No soy ningún Stanley KowalskiA lo mejor Estanley no usaría este foro.