Noun
shirt sleeves
plural of shirt sleeve
Preceded by in: wearing only a shirt without a coat, jacket, or comparable protective covering over it.
(by extension) A working-class socioeconomic status (not requiring a professional business jacket).
shirt-sleeves
plural of shirt-sleeve
shirt-sleeves pl (plural only)
Alternative form of shirt sleeves
shirt-sleeves
Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sleeves and coffee served in beakers. George Porter
When the honour is given to that scientist personally the happiness is sweet indeed. Science is, on the whole, an informal activity, a life of shirt sleeves and coffee served in beakers. George Porter
I'm a jacket man. And if I'm without one, I am kind of seriously disabled. I don't know how to operate in shirt sleeves. Bill Nighy