more life in a tramp's vest
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Used in comparisons to indicate that someone or something is devoid of life or animation.
Register: slang
Examples
We had been used to the patter and banter of the Gorbals and, after a particularly dull conversation with one of our new neighbours, my mother told me that she'd 'seen mair life in a tramp's vest'.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “more life in a tramp's vest” mean?
Used in comparisons to indicate that someone or something is devoid of life or animation.
Is “more life in a tramp's vest” formal or informal?
more life in a tramp's vest is generally slang.