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Hair shirt
01
something extremely hard that one goes through, often as a punishment
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "hair shirt" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "hair shirt" can be traced back to religious practices and traditions that date back centuries. The practice of wearing a hair shirt as a form of penance or self-mortification was prevalent in various religious orders, particularly in medieval Christianity. The use of a hair shirt was seen as a way to demonstrate humility, repentance, and spiritual discipline.
Examples
He treated the unpaid work like a hair shirt after the scandal.
02
an uncomfortable shirt made of coarse animal hair; worn next to the skin as a penance
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
hair shirts
