Men in white coats is a reference to medical professionals like doctors or psychiatrists and sometimes implies that someone’s about to be institutionalized or undergo a medical evaluation. Basically, when you hear, “The men in white coats are coming,” it’s generally not an invite to a toga party. It means they think you’re crazy.
Idioms, like this one, are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of their individual words. They are like jazz hands for language because they add drama, color, and flair to a sentence’s intent and meaning. But they’re only as effective as their correctness. So, read on and find out just how you’re supposed to use the idiom as I break down its origin and show you some sentence examples.
What Does ‘Men in White Coats’ Mean?
The phrase men in white coats can swing between two poles. First, it’s a neutral reference to medical professionals. But as an idiom, it’s often used humorously or ominously to suggest that someone’s actions or words are so erratic or strange that they might need psychiatric evaluation.
Origin and Etymology of Men in White Coats
The 19th-century idiom “men in white coats” stems from the stereotypical image of doctors, scientists, or psychiatric personnel wearing crisp white lab coats. The phrase gained some serious traction in the 20th century, especially within the realm of popular culture, as a way to allude to medical or psychiatric intervention.
Synonyms for Men in White Coats
Going crazy for some alternative expressions? You’re in luck! Here are just a few common synonyms:
- Medical professionals
- Shrink
- The docs
- Lab-coated folks
- Clinical crew
Using ‘People in White Coats’ in Sentence Examples
- If you keep talking to yourself out loud, people will think the men in white coats should come for you.
- I have an appointment with the men in white coats for my annual mental health check-up.
- After that meltdown, the mother joked that the men in white coats would be arriving soon.
- My father always said that men in white coats were out to get him, but now I believe him.
- The project was so stressful that we all felt the men in white coats were looming.
- In movies, the arrival of men in white coats usually signals a juicy plot twist.
- Men in white coats flooded the lab after the experiment went awry.
- She finally listened to her family and went to see the men in white coats about her crazy dreams.
- When her husband started explaining his conspiracy theories, someone quipped about calling the men in white coats.
- No need for men in white coats; it turns out he’s a genius, not a madman.
Avoid Men in White Coats
So, men in white coats is a saying you could use the next time someone seems a little cuckoo. Idioms provide a playful way to get your point across, and knowing how to use them can be as reassuring as a clean bill of health from, you guessed it, the men in white coats. Load up on more idioms with our guides found right on our site!