Where does the term "cut the cloth," or, "cutting the cloth" come from? is it a saying even?

Question

I'm wondering if it has religeous significance... looking for a description as a sub-head for a flier that's being made... basically just wondering what the meaning behind it is, where it comes from....

Answer 1

I believe the phrase you are looking for is "cut from the same cloth" as in "You and your father are cut from the same cloth".

A possible origin of the phrase comes from a few hundred years ago, families would buy a bolt of fabric to make their clothes from, so all in the family would be notably cut from the same cloth. In some communities they would maintain a certain fabric or tartan and that pattern would be identified with the specific family that used it again and again.

Answer 2

Cutting The Cloth

Answer 3

Could it be "cut from the same cloth" which means something is the same as something else. Like if you have some cloth you can cut out a shirt or some pants or a dress. They are different types of clothes but cut from the same cloth.

Answer 4

I don't know about cut the cloth, but cut the cheese maybe? Cut the cheese is a cute euphemism for f a r t ing. It's an allusion to the odor being akin to that which emanates from a freshly cut block of cheese.

Answer 5

'Cut your coat according to your cloth'

Old English proverb

to only buy what you have enough money to pay for. Of course we'd love a huge expensive house, but you have to cut your coat according to your cloth.

Answer 6

it means fitting a problem to a solution rather than fitting a solution to a problem. or as lillian helman said at the mccarthy hearings: "I am not an American who "will cut the cloth' of my conscience to fit this year's fashions."

oh, also when you screw up a billiards shot....you "cut the cloth," ie. you rip the felt.......

Answer 7

I dont have a source, but I believe it came from the days when sailors made thier own sails,