Definition
Worn so thin that the threads show through; shabby or in poor condition from heavy use or age. Can be used literally for fabric or figuratively for ideas, excuses, or arguments that have lost their effectiveness through overuse.
Example Usage
His excuses were threadbare by the end of the semester.
Origin
Compound of 'thread' and 'bare,' dating to the 16th century, originally describing literal fabric worn away to visibility of the underlying threads.
Fun Fact
The term became a literary and social metaphor during the Victorian era, used to describe both worn clothing and the reduced circumstances of genteel poverty.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “Threadbare” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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