Rags: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe pieces of old or worn-out fabric often used for cleaning or as clothing that is in bad condition.

• He wiped the dirty table with an old rag.
• The homeless man was dressed in rags.

Small pieces of leftover fabric often used for sewing or crafting projects.

• She made a quilt using cloth scraps from various projects.
• The floor was littered with cloth scraps from the sewing class.

Pieces of fabric that are torn and ragged, typically used to describe clothing or material that is badly damaged.

• His clothes were in tatters after the rough journey.
• The flag was left in tatters after the storm.

Thin strips or bits of material, which can refer to fabric or other materials that have been torn into pieces.

• He tore the paper into shreds.
• The old curtain hung in shreds.

Used when referring to old, torn clothes or fabric often considered worthless. It can also metaphorically describe a poor or humble state.

• She dressed in rags because she couldn't afford new clothes
• The mechanic used old rags to clean up the oil spill

Commonly used to describe food that remains uneaten after a meal. It implies something that is still useful or edible.

• We had yesterday's leftovers for lunch
• Don't throw away the leftovers, I can have them for dinner

Describes small, leftover pieces of material. Can refer to food waste, bits of paper, or fabric, usually implying something discarded.

• The dog eagerly ate the scraps of food from the table
• She collected paper scraps for her collage project

Used to describe small remaining pieces of something that was once larger. Often refers to fabric, memories, or traces of past events.

• She found remnants of her childhood toys in the attic
• The tailor used remnants of fabric to make patchwork quilts

Used to describe old, torn, or worn-out clothes, often in poor condition. It can have a negative connotation, indicating poverty or neglect.

• He was dressed in rags and looked like he hadn't eaten in days.
• The children played in the streets in their rags.

Used to describe clothes that are very worn and torn, with a strong visual image of damage and neglect. It often carries a negative connotation and suggests extreme wear or poverty.

• The homeless man wore tattered clothing that barely kept him warm.
• Her tattered clothing showed years of hardship.

Describes clothing that is worn out, faded, or in poor condition but not necessarily torn. It generally implies neglect or wear due to age and use, without a strong negative implication.

• He arrived at the party in shabby clothes, which made him feel out of place.
• The actor wore shabby clothes to fit his film character, a struggling artist.

Refers to used clothes or items that were previously owned by someone else, often passed down within a family. It does not necessarily have a negative connotation and can simply indicate second-hand items.

• She wore her older sister's hand-me-downs to school.
• Growing up, I always had hand-me-down toys and clothes.