hair shirt 1. (苦行者或忏悔者贴身穿的)刚毛衬衣 2. 〈喻〉惩罚工具，刑具；苦难的根源 a hair shirt sort of self-discipline 苦行者般的自我约束 What was life worth under the hair shirt of this hideous fear? 整天担惊受怕地受折磨，这样活着还有什么意思? The opposition parties have made the senate a parliamentary hair shirt for the prime minister. 反对党使首相在上议院里的日子很难过。