to dress in layers
—| B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) |—
This is a very common phrase that you can hear in North America, particularly when summer ends and fall begins, and especially when it is winter. “To dress in layers” typically means:
VERB PHRASE (standard): to wear many separate items of clothing in order to stay warm (e.g. undershirt + shirt + sweater + jacket + scarf)
EXAMPLES:
“Dressing in layers is practical for a couple reasons: A.) if it is cold, you will be able to stay warm because of all the clothes you’re wearing and B.) if you get too hot because the weather warms up or you go somewhere warm, like work or a friend’s house, then you’ll be able to take something off without feeling naked or uncomfortable.”
“It is expected to be -40 degrees Celsius with windchill today, so you better dress in layers if you want to stay warm.”
“Wow! You really dressed in layers today, hey?”
“Yeah, I’m feeling a little warm, actually…”
“Why don’t you take something off? Are you wearing a shirt under your hoodie? You could take that off if you want.”
“Yeah, I actually am. I think I will… Oh, man! This feels a lot better now, thanks!”
“No problem! No need to sweat if you’ve come dressed in layers. Just take off a layer.”
Do you ever dress in layers? What kinds of clothes do you like to put together to stay warm? Let me know in the comments below.
ASSOCIATED WORDS:
Some synonyms of “to dress in layers” include:
to bundle up (phrasal verb; informal)
to wear layers (verb phrase; informal)
The opposite of “to dress in layers” is:
to take off a layer (phrasal verb; informal)
