English Idiom – Dragged through a hedge backwards (or pulled through a hedge backwards).
Very messy and untidy, especially your hair. We usually say someone looks like they’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards. It can also describe feeling exhausted and battered after a chaotic experience.
A hedge is a line of bushes forming a fence or boundary, very common in the British countryside. Imagine being pulled backwards through one – you’d come out covered in leaves and twigs, with your hair everywhere!
If your hair just won’t behave, you might be having a bad hair day (idiom).
Usage:
- You’ve had a terrible experience at the hairdresser.
- Someone arrives at work looking very untidy.
- You’ve had an exhausting, chaotic week.
Example:
- “Look at Peter! His hair is a mess and his clothes are all over the place. He looks like he’s been dragged through a hedge backwards!”
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking very messy and untidy, especially your hair.
A row of bushes planted close together to form a fence or boundary.
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