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Where does the phrase checkered past come from

Author

Daniel Moore

Updated on January 07, 2026

What does it mean if something is checkered?

adjective. marked by numerous and various shifts or changes; variegated: a checkered career. marked by dubious episodes; suspect in character or quality: a checkered past. marked with squares: a checkered fabric. diversified in color; alternately light and shadowed: the checkered shade beneath trees.

Is Chequered past or checkered past?

Checkered past is the American spelling of this term. Chequered past is the British spelling, though increasingly the American spelling is also being used in Britain.

Has had a Chequered career?

Checkered Career Meaning

Definition: An employment history that includes many past changes. Sometimes, people use this expression to refer to a person’s background in general, rather than specifically their past work experience. It often implies that the person has had a mixture of successes and failures.

Is checkered a adjective?

CHECKERED (adjective) definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary.

What is a Chequered history?

Definition of checkered history

: a past history of having had problems When it comes to labor relations, the company has a somewhat checkered history.

What does a Chequered life mean?

adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] If a person or organization has had a chequered career or history, they have had a varied past with both good and bad periods.

What is a checkered past?

Definition of checkered past

: a past history of having done bad things or been in trouble The senator has a checkered past.

What does disreputable mean in English?

: not respected or trusted by most people : having a bad reputation. See the full definition for disreputable in the English Language Learners Dictionary. disreputable. adjective.

Is plaid checkered?

In fact, many designers use the terms “plaid” and “check” interchangeably, but these are two totally different types of surface patterns. Plaid and checkered patterns are both stacked and square, but here’s how they are fundamentally different. The term plaid refers to patterns inspired by Scottish “tartan” plaids.

What does sordid past mean?

adj. 1 dirty, foul, or squalid. 2 degraded; vile; base. a sordid affair. 3 selfish and grasping.

What does being a lost cause mean?

Definition of lost cause

: a person or thing that is certain to fail She decided her acting career was a lost cause. I’m a lost cause when it comes to anything technical.

Is gingham always checked?

The truth is that gingham does not mean check or checked, it actually means striped. … The fabric balance between colored, and neutral yarns was seen as being perfect for striped shirts. As the fabric made its journey into the Western world, it retained its name, but lost its once signifying stripes.

What is checkered print called?

GinghamGingham is a checkered pattern, usually white and a color. The stripes are horizontal and vertical, of the same color, placed over a white background.

What is the difference between gingham and checkered?

A checkered pattern consists of squares in two different colours positioned in alternating positions. As its name suggests, think of a checkerboard or the finishing line flag at a Formula One race. In actual fact, gingham is the name of the fabric made from cotton blend yarn.

Is gingham Still in Style 2021?

In the fashion calendar, gingham always comes back into play in the warmer months. … For 2021, gingham checks are brighter and bolder than in previous seasons, with green, purple and orange iterations proving just as tempting as the timeless black-and-white combinations.

Are gingham pants in Style 2021?

This “Wizard of Oz” print is all the rage. Gingham is a timeless summer classic, but it is certainly having a big moment in 2021. … Indeed, both high-end designers and fast fashion brands have been featuring the iconic motif in their summer styles.

Does gingham ever go out of style?

The cute little checks just feel cheerful and that fact that gingham is now a certified perma-trend (yes, gingham is having a moment in the sun but it will never go out of fashion) means we can be sustainably on-trend too. As always we’re looking to the chic set on the ‘gram to inspire our styling options…

Can you wear gingham to a wedding?

What to wear: The dressy end of dressy-casual. “Midi dresses in summery fabrics like linen, gingham, seersucker or eyelet will strike the right balance between comfortable and classy,” recommended Cospito. “Instantly elevate the look to wedding-ready with gold accessories and espadrilles.”

Can I wear gingham in the fall?

And while this plaid print is often associated with the summer, it’s a classic pattern that can effortlessly transition into fall. With that in mind, we found a gingham dress for only $30 from Amazon that you can wear to a pool party or a pumpkin patch.

What should you not wear to a funeral?

Avoid dressing in casual clothing, such as athletic wear, tank tops, or shorts. Skip the flip-flops, tennis shoes, sneakers, or boat shoes. Remove the neon necktie, purse, or accessory. Shy away from wearing jeans, even black ones, because they are considered too casual for a funeral.

Can you wear jeans to a funeral?

The most common answer is that jeans aren’t considered appropriate funeral etiquette unless requested by the family. However, dark, unembellished jeans paired with a shirt, tie, and blazer for men or a blouse and a blazer for women can be appropriate for a casual service.

What color should you not wear to a wedding?

white “Do not wear white, off-white, beige, cream, white lace, or any dress that could resemble a wedding dress,” added Stafford. Moral of the story? Keep it simple and drama free; if there’s white, look for an alternative. White is still the main colour you can’t wear to a wedding.

Can wear black to wedding?

Always avoid wearing anything that’s too low cut, too short, or too tight,” advises Swann. And while black dresses and gowns are perfectly acceptable for most formal weddings, you might want to consider another hue if you’ve been invited to noontime nuptials or a casual, seaside ceremony.