Good catch. Yeah, someone sits around slugging bear, you best just let them refer to their clothing however they want.
Oh, you do not. 
No, I don’t. 
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.
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.
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.
I call them “nun stabbers”.
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?
I read this and think Taye Diggs.
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.)
You are a woman of exquisite taste. I am looking forward to meeting you.
[sub]Sigh. If only he were taller.[/sub]
In the politically incorrect neighborhood I grew up in, we called them Italian Dinner Jackets
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.
Where I grew up (northern NJ) they were called “guinea Ts.”
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.
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. 
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.
I’ve always used the term *singlet * too.
Sounds like you’re talking about vests.