Learn English – Usage and origin of the expression “bacon collar”

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Some polo-shirts suffer from the bacon collar syndrome. That is, the edges of a shirt collar begin to curl up after several washes and never regain that original, crisp look.

Polo shirt collar

Limp, flaccid, floppy and misshapen also describe this affliction, but I'm thinking there must be a more technical term.

What is this defect called in the shirt-making trade?

A user has kindly pointed out that my question is perhaps not suited for this forum. So… I'm also curious about the term bacon collar.

Whose brainchild was it, and when did it make its first appearance in print?

Best Answer

Bacon collar, also bacon neck:

There is no reference available apart from a U.D. post from 2010. The expression most likely has been used before:

  • When a person's collar on their shirt ripples simulating the shape of cooked bacon.

    • Hey, see that guy two rows next to us? He has bacon neck.

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According to this site the expression was coined in a 2010 commercial with Micheal Jordan.

  • In the commercials, they’ve coined and are using the new term “bacon neck” as a way to describe a worn out, frayed, and sagging undershirt collar. I think it’s pretty ingenious of them to create a funny phrase that describes sagging undershirt collars. Now, when I see guys wearing an undershirt with a worn out collar, I’ll probably think the guy’s got “bacon neck” now.
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