# What's the real name for what are known as "wife-beaters"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385 "2005-04-21T08:05:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/21 "2005-04-21T13:39:42Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > You have to be a tough motherfucker to slug bears. Men who beat their wives aren’t tough. > > Also: 😃 🙂 Good catch. Yeah, someone sits around slugging bear, you best just let them refer to their clothing however they want. > [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > I call them “child-molesters”. Oh, you do not. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/22 "2005-04-21T13:49:27Z")
No, I don’t. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/23 "2005-04-21T14:05:00Z")
Before the term “wife-beater” took over the ordinary slang, I had always heard them called “sleeveless tees” (for t-shirt.) True, an A-shirt doesn’t look quite like a genuine T with the sleeves cut out, but it was always close enough. And my son is a weightlifter. They also wear singlets. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/24 "2005-04-21T14:13:29Z")
Oh, man. Few things are hotter than the outline of a ribbed tank beneath a dress shirt on a well-dressed gentleman of a certain physique. Much hotter than an undershirt, which, now that I think about it, isn’t really hot at all. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/25 "2005-04-21T14:19:51Z")
Up until a few years ago, I referred to them as Guinea T’s. It never struck me as offensive until my Italian friend brought it to my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/26 "2005-04-21T14:27:54Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > I call them “child-molesters”. I call them “nun stabbers”. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/27 "2005-04-21T15:03:36Z")
I’ve never worn one, but I called them A-shirts or singlets. Since no one knew what I’m talking about, I started calling them wife-beaters. And I still run into people who don’t know the term. Whenever I think of these shirts, I think: ‘Get off mah LAWn!’ Doesn’t Cletus wear one on _The Simpsons_? ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/28 "2005-04-21T15:26:53Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > Oh, man. Few things are hotter than the outline of a ribbed tank beneath a dress shirt on a well-dressed gentleman of a certain physique. Much hotter than an undershirt, which, now that I think about it, isn’t really hot at all. I read this and think Taye Diggs. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/29 "2005-04-21T16:01:54Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > What’s the difference between a wifebeater and an A-shirt? Nothing. Nothing at all. The packaging on Hanes and Fruit of the Loom brands here calls them “A-Shirts.” Also, as someone stated earlier, singlets are the tight spandex outfits worn by high-school wrestlers. They’re not very comfortable and can be downright embarassing to wear without the right type of body. (Ex-highschool wrestler checking in.) ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/30 "2005-04-21T16:03:06Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > I read this and think Taye Diggs. You are a woman of exquisite taste. I am looking forward to meeting you. [sub]Sigh. If only he were taller.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/31 "2005-04-21T16:20:03Z")
> [@Jackknifed Juggernaut](#): > > Up until a few years ago, I referred to them as Guinea T’s. It never struck me as offensive until my Italian friend brought it to my attention. In the politically incorrect neighborhood I grew up in, we called them Italian Dinner Jackets ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/32 "2005-04-21T16:58:15Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > we called 'em Dago Tees back in the day. Appears to be a Chicago term as that’s how I knew them when growing up in the Land Just Beyond O’Hare. Even my mother calls them that. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/33 "2005-04-21T17:45:17Z")
Where I grew up (northern NJ) they were called “guinea Ts.” ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/34 "2005-04-21T17:45:59Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > Oh, man. Few things are hotter than the outline of a ribbed tank beneath a dress shirt on a well-dressed gentleman of a certain physique. Much hotter than an undershirt, which, now that I think about it, isn’t really hot at all. Well, there’s the soaking-wet ribbed tank on a barely-dressed gentleman of a certain physique. Did you see Law and Order: SVU this week? Oh my. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/35 "2005-04-21T21:06:05Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > …ribbed tank… That looks good. I’ll use that. Apparently, uh, _other_ terms are more common, but I can’t have my cake and eat it too. 😛 Normally I like to use the manufacturer’s terminology, but no-one will know what I’m talking about—actually, I think I’ll keep “A-tee” in the reserves, just in case. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/36 "2005-04-21T21:27:17Z")
I call it an A-shirt or an undershirt, though I think undershirt has a slightly more general connotation in that it can refer to a non-ribbed and sleeved shirt as long as it is worn underneath something. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/37 "2005-04-23T07:36:16Z")
> [@Stark Raven Mad](#): > > My mom always called them singlets. Is this strange? I’ve always used the term \*singlet \* too. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385/38 "2005-04-23T08:43:21Z")
Sounds like you’re talking about vests. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-name-for-what-are-known-as-wife-beaters/300385.md?page=1)