# Whitey Tightie or Tidy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2000, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467 "2000-07-13T19:18:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/1 "2000-07-13T19:18:17Z")
Seven year old male twins here to spend the weekend. One tells me of the way he “got” his twin towards the end of school: He told everyone his twin still wore “Whitey Tighties” and the other twin nearly evaporated. Apparently everyone in second grade knew what Whitey tighties were and the mom spend the afternoon getting the victim $16.00 knit boxer undies. Whitey Tighties? I’d never heard of them! And the little devil twins are from North Carolina so I couldn’t tell if they were talking about Whitey Tighties or Whitey Tidies. So which is it? Tidies or Tighties? Is it a commom expression I just missed? Or something peculiar to N.C.? And have you every seen $16.00 knit plaid boxer shots? In itsy bitsy sizes? What a hoot! ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/2 "2000-07-13T19:33:08Z")
$16.00 for a pair of underwear for a 7-year-old?! I’d tell the kid to keep his danged pants on and let the other kids think what they like. Saints preserve us. Mine is going to be lucky if he isn’t wearing hand-me-downs when he is 7. From his sister. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/3 "2000-07-13T19:35:59Z")
I thought it was “tighty whities” which is the expression for traditional white briefs (without the latest in long legs). Hopelessly out of fashion these days I guess…I’ve only heard the expression lately as they are considered dorky and the name gets thrown around as derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/4 "2000-07-13T19:37:22Z")
Can’t recall where I have heard it, seems like on a TV show or something. I think it is tightie, as in the standard pair of underwear for men for years has been the white briefs and they are tight all over (not loose like boxers) and since it rhymes, whitey tighty. Jeffery ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/5 "2000-07-13T20:19:29Z")
Yes, it’s whitey tighties, and I wear them; so there! Phbbbbttttt! whitey because of their colour, and tighty, because they are (relatively). ---
**Author:** ![winky99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/71c47a/32.png) [@winky99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/winky99)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/6 "2000-07-13T20:23:48Z")
Count me as whitey tightey wearer as well. And proud of it!! ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/7 "2000-07-13T20:26:38Z")
I always heard it as tighty whities too, for the aforementioned reasons. And yes, dammit, I wear 'em with pride. I also have a few pairs of those newfangled boxer briefs, but I don’t like them as much. Like Kramer said, “My boys need a house.” ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/8 "2000-07-13T20:36:30Z")
tighty-whities, n, pl. : a) tight, white, cotton underwear with a Y-front closure. b) a sign that your mommy still buys your underwear (which in the case of a 7-year old, is perfectly acceptable) ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/9 "2000-07-13T20:44:24Z")
Tighty Whities, and I wear 'em, too. 16 bucks for underwear my a - oh wait, yes, quite literally my ass . . . get the kid some swim trunks. Nice and comfy. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/10 "2000-07-13T20:46:53Z")
It’s “Tighty Whities”, detest the damned things. Only boxer briefs for this boy. Or, ermm, see below. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/11 "2000-07-13T21:16:46Z")
And what exactly is wrong with “tighty whities”? They’re comfortable, they don’t shrink, and they keep everything in place. I wear them, but I also wear colored briefs. Any chicks out there want to verify that, ask to check. 😉 What are “boxer briefs”? Those long-legged briefs? What’s so good about them? By the way, my tighty whities have been on stage, so there. ---
**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/12 "2000-07-13T22:13:43Z")
Tighty-whities. Also, in our family we’ve always called women’s low-legged, high-waisted, hipster underwear “big whites.” I don’t know where that came from or if anyone else says it. As in, if you’ve got a hot date you probably don’t want to wear your big whites. 😉 ---
**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:** [July 13, 2000, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/13 "2000-07-13T22:38:10Z")
I have to agree that they’re **tighty-whities** , and not “whitey tighties”. When I was growing up, they were called “skivvies”. ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/14 "2000-07-13T22:55:39Z")
Most women I know don’t find them sexy, especially now that the boxer-briefs are out, but hey, they’re a classic, and it’s what/who that’s in 'em that counts! Also, they’re way, way, way better than the dreaded banana hammock. _Wince!_ ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/15 "2000-07-13T23:11:25Z")
Sorry, absolutely no skimpy ball and a$$ crack riding tighty whiteys for me, gotta be black or grey briefs. Not boxers, tighty briefs. can’t ride up that way, and still leave enough room to breathe. gotta be grey or black as well, just can’t be the stylish guy i am without the style going all the way to my briefs. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/16 "2000-07-13T23:15:52Z")
Who in their right minds would want to wear tighty-whiteys? Lets see…First of all white is not the best choice for underware colour to begin with. Second, doesn’t keeping the sack too warm result in a lower sperm count? ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2000, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/17 "2000-07-14T02:13:01Z")
They’re kinda goofy looking, and are a little cumbersome to manuveur around for me. Plus, boxers come in neat colors and patterns. My friend Eddie has the kewlest boxers with all kinds of weird patterns[cows, ice cream, etc.]. ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/18 "2000-07-14T03:52:24Z")
I hate boxers, my “guys” need some support so i wear boxer briefs. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/19 "2000-07-14T03:55:17Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Vestal Blue \* \*\*Yes, it’s whitey tighties, and I wear them; so there! Phbbbbttttt! I’ve always called them Tighty Whities, but thanks for the mental picture VB!! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2000, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467/20 "2000-07-14T18:34:42Z")
I think all men’s underwear other than boxers look ridiculous, and I’ve, um, seen my share of other men’s underwear. My fave is boxer-briefs, especially black ones. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whitey-tightie-or-tidy/25467.md?page=2)