soup and fish
English
Etymology
From the first courses served at gala dinners, where formal dress is worn.
Noun
soup and fish (uncountable)
- (dated, slang) Men's formal white tie dress.
- 1916 March 11, Charles E. Van Loan, “His Folks”, in Saturday Evening Post:
- Not a thing, you notice, about Elmer showing up in the soup and fish—the women thought that was all right. May Wilson even said that he looked well in the outfit.
Alternative forms
- soup-and-fish