To be threadbare
Meaning
To be so old or worn out that the individual threads of fabric are visible, or, figuratively, to lack originality and freshness.
Origin
Imagine a medieval garment, perhaps a wool tunic or a linen tapestry, used day in and day out, washed repeatedly, and rubbed against countless surfaces. Over time, the interwoven fibers that gave the cloth its bulk and pattern would begin to wear away. The soft nap would disappear, the pile would flatten, and eventually, the individual strands—the very 'threads' that formed the fabric's structure—would become starkly visible, lying 'bare' and exposed. This literal description of cloth worn thin by time and use gave rise to the phrase 'threadbare,' perfectly capturing the state of something diminished, its inner workings revealed, and soon extended to metaphorically describe anything lacking substance or originality due to overuse.
Examples
- After years of constant use, the old carpet in the hallway had become completely threadbare.
- His excuses for missing deadlines were so threadbare that his boss no longer found them convincing.