--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Yanks always wore neckties that leapt…" description: "\"“The Yanks always wore neckties that leapt out in front of their shirts, as if to announce the awkwardness to follow.”\" — Tom Wolfe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/tom-wolfe-2191_quote_the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leap_1992075.jpg" --- # The Yanks always wore neckties that leapt out in front of… ![“The Yanks always wore neckties that leapt out in front of their shirts, as if to announce the awkwardness to follow.” quote by Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/tom-wolfe-2191_quote_the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leap_1992075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/tom-wolfe-2191_quote_the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leap_1992075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/tom-wolfe-2191_quote_the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leap_1992075.jpg) > ““The Yanks always wore neckties that leapt out in front of their shirts, as if to announce the awkwardness to follow.”” [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author mocks American businessmen’s flashy neckties as a prelude to awkwardness, highlighting superficiality. **In simple terms:** Flashy ties signal upcoming discomfort. Key Takeaway Look beyond appearances for true character. Themes culture fashion social observation Mood wry observational Type nonfiction satire When to use this quote - business meetings - first impressions - social gatherings Key Concepts symbolism American corporate style Questions to Reflect On - Why do we judge by clothing? - What cues truly reveal confidence? A Different Perspective Style can be a personal choice, not always a sign of awkwardness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Neckties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neckties/) [Neckties Leapt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neckties-leapt-3459413/) [Wore Neckties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wore-neckties-3459414/) [Yanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yanks-650356/) [Yanks Wore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yanks-wore-3459412/) ## Related quotes > [The Yanks have colonized our subconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-wenders/the-yanks-have-colonized-our-subconscious/) [Wim Wenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-wenders/) > [The problem with Yanks is they are wimps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-ramsay/the-problem-with-yanks-is-they-are-wimps/) [Gordon Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-ramsay/) > [God knows what the Yanks will make of 'Kevin and Perry.' It's totally gross to them because we don't look like we're off 'Dawson's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/god-knows-what-the-yanks-will-make-of-kevin-and-perry-it-s-totally/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) > [“Oh dear...I've never really liked the Yanks. They're really very nice people, you know. Yes, but you can't trust people who pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman-terry-pratchett/oh-dear-i-ve-never-really-liked-the-yanks-they-re-really-very-nice/) [Neil Gaiman Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman-terry-pratchett/) > [After all, we fought the Yanks in 1812 and kicked them the hell out of our country - but not with blanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farley-mowat/after-all-we-fought-the-yanks-in-1812-and-kicked-them-the-hell-out-of/) [Farley Mowat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farley-mowat/) > [I've never really liked the Yanks. ... You can't trust people who pick up the ball all the time when they play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-ve-never-really-liked-the-yanks-you-can-t-trust-people-who-pick-up/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I don't care what you Yanks say, cheese should not whiz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-rallison/i-don-t-care-what-you-yanks-say-cheese-should-not-whiz/) [Janette Rallison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-rallison/) > [This war all started because them dam yanks wouldnt let us govern ourselves. the south will rise again!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/this-war-all-started-because-them-dam-yanks-wouldnt-let-us-govern/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [There is a remarkable breakdown of taste and intelligence at Christmastime. Mature, responsible grown men wear neckties made of holly leaves and drink alcoholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-a-remarkable-breakdown-of-taste-and-intelligence-at/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Like a necktie or a bouquet of flowers, an idea was best if one did not fuss with it too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-beckett/like-a-necktie-or-a-bouquet-of-flowers-an-idea-was-best-if-one-did/) [Galen Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-beckett/) > [Life is serious all the time, but living cannot be. You may have all the solemnity you wish in your neckties, but in anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/life-is-serious-all-the-time-but-living-cannot-be-you-may-have-all/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I got a burlap sack, put a brick in the middle, and filled it with rags, corncobs, some Spanish moss, and sand. I hung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-got-a-burlap-sack-put-a-brick-in-the-middle-and-filled-it-with-rags/) [Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/) > [The emblem on the necktie reserved for the members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews - The Vatican of golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/the-emblem-on-the-necktie-reserved-for-the-members-of-the-royal-and/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wearing a necktie and a dress shirt, which I thought was really weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-once-had-a-boyfriend-who-couldn-t-write-unless-he-was-wearing-a/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [Respecting the dignity of a spectacular food means enjoying it at its best. Europeans celebrate the short season of abundant asparagus as a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/respecting-the-dignity-of-a-spectacular-food-means-enjoying-it-at-its/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## More by Tom Wolfe > [“Well … things are beginning to stack up a little,” said Gordo. It was the same old sod-hut drawl. He sounded like the airline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/well-things-are-beginning-to-stack-up-a-little-said-gordo-it-was-the/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Everything in everybody’s life is … significant. And everybody is alert, watching for the meanings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/everything-in-everybody-s-life-is-significant-and-everybody-is-alert/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > ['Back to Blood' really took it out of me. While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [In the U.S., the term 'general aviation' means its exact opposite, the way 'public school' does in England. An English public school is private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/in-the-u-s-the-term-general-aviation-means-its-exact-opposite-the-way/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [That's mostly what the Internet is, just passing the time. But unfortunately you are dealing with words that can have meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/that-s-mostly-what-the-internet-is-just-passing-the-time-but/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“The dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-dark-night-of-fascism-is-always-descending-in-the-united-states/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Loneliness wasn't just a state of mind, was it? It was tactile. She could feel it. It was a sixth sense, not in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/loneliness-wasn-t-just-a-state-of-mind-was-it-it-was-tactile-she/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [it is either make this thing permanent inside of you or forever just climb draggled up into the conning tower every time for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/it-is-either-make-this-thing-permanent-inside-of-you-or-forever-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I found a great many pieces of punctuation and typography lying around dormant when I came along - and I must say I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-found-a-great-many-pieces-of-punctuation-and-typography-lying/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“They became desperate for an antidote, such as coziness & color. They tried to bury the obligatory white sofas under Thai-silk throw pillows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/they-became-desperate-for-an-antidote-such-as-coziness-color-they/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [A cult is a religion with no political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/a-cult-is-a-religion-with-no-political-power/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I don't think journalists should talk about whom they're voting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-don-t-think-journalists-should-talk-about-whom-they-re-voting-for/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Even hostile parodies admit from the start that the target has a distinct voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/even-hostile-parodies-admit-from-the-start-that-the-target-has-a/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I had always looked down on sociology as this arriviste discipline. It didn't have the noble history of English and history as a subject.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-had-always-looked-down-on-sociology-as-this-arriviste-discipline-it/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I read somewhere that writers, as they get older, become more and more perfectionist. Which may be because they think more highly of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-read-somewhere-that-writers-as-they-get-older-become-more-and-more/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Explore all 177 Tom Wolfe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## More Neckties quotes > [Respecting the dignity of a spectacular food means enjoying it at its best. Europeans celebrate the short season of abundant asparagus as a form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/respecting-the-dignity-of-a-spectacular-food-means-enjoying-it-at-its/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wearing a necktie and a dress shirt, which I thought was really weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-once-had-a-boyfriend-who-couldn-t-write-unless-he-was-wearing-a/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [The emblem on the necktie reserved for the members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews - The Vatican of golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cooke/the-emblem-on-the-necktie-reserved-for-the-members-of-the-royal-and/) [Alistair Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cooke/) > [I got a burlap sack, put a brick in the middle, and filled it with rags, corncobs, some Spanish moss, and sand. I hung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-got-a-burlap-sack-put-a-brick-in-the-middle-and-filled-it-with-rags/) [Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/) > [There is a remarkable breakdown of taste and intelligence at Christmastime. Mature, responsible grown men wear neckties made of holly leaves and drink alcoholic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-a-remarkable-breakdown-of-taste-and-intelligence-at/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Like a necktie or a bouquet of flowers, an idea was best if one did not fuss with it too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-beckett/like-a-necktie-or-a-bouquet-of-flowers-an-idea-was-best-if-one-did/) [Galen Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-beckett/) > [Life is serious all the time, but living cannot be. You may have all the solemnity you wish in your neckties, but in anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/life-is-serious-all-the-time-but-living-cannot-be-you-may-have-all/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [We did make use, from time to time, of candles, neckties, scarves, shoelaces, a little water-color paintbrush, her hairbrush, butter, whipped cream, strawberry jam,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/we-did-make-use-from-time-to-time-of-candles-neckties-scarves/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [There is something about you that makes me feel terribly wicked. You make me want to do shocking things. Maybe it's because you're so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/there-is-something-about-you-that-makes-me-feel-terribly-wicked-you/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I have a hankering to go back to the Orient and discard my necktie. Neckties strangle clear thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/i-have-a-hankering-to-go-back-to-the-orient-and-discard-my-necktie/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [People don't want to see 17 pieces in neckties. They wanna see some jeans, some gettin' down, and some wigglin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/people-don-t-want-to-see-17-pieces-in-neckties-they-wanna-see-some/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [Marriage is part of a sort of 50′s revival package that's back in vogue along with neckties and naked ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/marriage-is-part-of-a-sort-of-50-s-revival-package-that-s-back-in/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [Neckties satisfy modern man's desire to dress in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-anderson/neckties-satisfy-modern-man-s-desire-to-dress-in-art/) [Harry Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-anderson/) > [I don't suppose a writing man ever really gets rid of his old crocus-yellow neckties. Sooner or later, I think, they show up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/i-don-t-suppose-a-writing-man-ever-really-gets-rid-of-his-old-crocus/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [We change ideas like neckties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/we-change-ideas-like-neckties/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) [Browse all 36 Neckties quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neckties/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Yanks always wore neckties that leapt out in front of their shirts, as if to announce the awkwardness to follow.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leapt-out-in-front-of-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Neckties" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leapt-out-in-front-of-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/tom-wolfe-2191_quote_the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leap_1992075.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/tom-wolfe-2191_quote_the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leap_1992075.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/tom-wolfe-2191_quote_the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leap_1992075.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Yanks always wore neckties that leapt out in front of their shirts, as if to announce the awkwardness to…” — Tom Wolfe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Wolfe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Yanks always wore neckties that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leapt-out-in-front-of-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-yanks-always-wore-neckties-that-leapt-out-in-front-of-their/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```