What's the meaning of " anything in a dress"?

Question

In one episode of Everybody Loves Raymond,

Ray's father Frank said: Teenage boys can be shy and awkward. Their voices crack, their skin breaks out and they're afraid of anything in a dress. This was especially true for my son Roy."

What's the meaning of anything in a dress?

Thanks for your help.

Nef · Accepted Answer

In one episode of Everybody Loves Raymond,

Ray's father Frank said: Teenage boys can be shy and awkward. Their voices crack, their skin breaks out and they're afraid of anything in a dress. This was especially true for my son Roy."

What's the meaning of anything in a dress?

Women (probably young women) and teenage girls

Teenage boys can be very self-conscious around teenage girls and young women.

Frank.q · Answer

NefIn one episode of Everybody Loves Raymond,

Ray's father Frank said: Teenage boys can be shy and awkward. Their voices crack, their skin breaks out and they're afraid of anything in a dress. This was especially true for my son Roy."

What's the meaning of anything in a dress?

Women (probably young women) and teenage girls

Teenage boys can be very self-conscious around teenage girls and young women.

Oh ,first thing first , thank you a lot.

And,I think you must be right .But you are native.

But as non-English people, it's really difficult for me to understand.

I checked the dictionary, but these is no such a meaning as you said under the word "Dress".

Vorpar · Answer

A dress is a type of clothing that women wear.

So anything in a dress is probably a woman.

Philip · Answer

Frank.q
In one episode of Everybody Loves Raymond,

Ray's father Frank said: Teenage boys can be shy and awkward. Their voices crack, their skin breaks out and they're afraid of anything in a dress. This was especially true for my son Roy."

What's the meaning of anything in a dress?

Thanks for your help.

He is afraid of any female. The reverse idiom used to be true, when no/few women wore slacks: "She'll go out with (date) anything in pants".

Annvan · Answer

"anything in a skirt" can also be used in this way - but I think this has more of an insulting/negative/crude sound to it than    "anything in a dress".

Englishuser · Answer

Hi Philip,

You wrote:

He is afraid of any female.

Off-topic: Why would anyone be afraid of females?

Philip · Answer

EnglishuserHi Philip,

You wrote:
He is afraid of any female.

Off-topic: Why would anyone be afraid of females?
Not so off-topic, since that is the meaning of the phrase in question. Answer: I wouldn't even begin to touch that one!

What's the meaning of " anything in a dress"?

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