Stuffed shirt

[Pupil]

Test No. incompl/inter-54 "Lots of Stuff", question 7

It's very difficult to make him enjoy himself, relax and take it easy because he always behaves like a stuffed
..........

(a) suit
(b) shirt
(c) jacket
(d) coat

Test No. incompl/inter-54 "Lots of Stuff", answer 7

It's very difficult to make him enjoy himself, relax and take it easy because he always behaves like a stuffed
shirt.

Correct answer: (b) shirt

Hello! Could you tell me: what is it "stuffed shirt"?
Thanks
Pupil
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the more we learn
the less we know

[Torsten]

Hi Pupil,

Someone who behaves like a stuffed shirt is rather conservative and might even have reactionary attitude. At any rate 'a stuffed shirt' is a boring person I'd say.

Here is the sentence you are referring to:

It's very difficult to make him enjoy himself, relax and take it easy because he always behaves like a stuffed shirt.

TOEIC listening, photographs: Coast fishing

[Alan]

Hi Pupil,

Just to add to what Torsten has written - a stuffed shirt is someone who always wants to do the correct thing and can never really take it easy because he/she cannot relax. The expression comes from the dummy or figure you see in a clothes shop window showing the clothes which are for sale. Obviously this figure is stiff and and doesn't move!

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Pupil]

Hi Alan and Torsten! Thank you very much.
Pupil.
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the more we learn
the less we know