Dick's hatband

noun

Used in similes as an intensifier, indicating someone or something is extremely strange, tight, etc.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

noun

alternative Nick's hatband

  1. colloquialdatednow principally USUsed in similes as an intensifier, indicating someone or something is extremely strange, tight, etc.

    I am as queer as Dick's hatband; that is, out of spirits, or don't know what ails me.

    1796, Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. "Dick"
    2 more examples

    A young Lady, the first or second Day of her Marriage, looks as queer as Dick's Hat-Band.

    1742, James Ayres, Sancho at Court, act III, line 44

    She's sharp as a tack when she wants to be and still tight as Dick's Hatband about her money.

    2014, C.B. McKenzie, Bad Country, page 108

Origin

Unknown; theories include reference to some local figure named Dick or Nick; to Satan (cf. Old Nick and dickens); and to Richard Cromwell.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Dick's hatband. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Dick's%20hatband

MLA

“Dick's hatband.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Dick's%20hatband. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Dick's hatband,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Dick's%20hatband.

Source: Dick's hatband on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.