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From the sitcom Seinfeld, they were describing a bra in the sentence "You got the cups in the front, two loops in the back".

It seems that in this context "loops" means "straps". Is that correct?

What are other uses of "loops" with the same meaning? General straps like bag handles?

Is it a plural noun and can it be used in the singular form (without the ending "s")?


I don't know if these sources break copyrights, so I don't know how long they will last, but searching for the whole sentence we can find transcripts and videos to that episode, like:

EDIT: Added a picture of the sitcom scene. Frank was hanging the bra while he would analyze and describe it.

Frank was hanging the bra while he would analyze and describe it

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  • Citations are do not infringe copyright. When you click on the link, you have to go there.There is no infringement. Rest assured.
    – Lambie
    Commented Sep 27, 2018 at 23:14
  • Please see my answer. Loops are not straps. Loops are lazos and straps are alzas, if you speak Spanish.
    – Lambie
    Commented Sep 28, 2018 at 17:31
  • @Lambie Along to my research, the answers and comments were so helpful, and I had already concluded that "laços" and "alças" were the respective translations to Portuguese, that I see now have matches to Spanish with similar spelling.
    – Luciano
    Commented Sep 28, 2018 at 17:54
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    É uma pena que nemhuma mulher tenha respondido. Nenhuma mulher chamaria essas alças de laços. Nenhuma. Por isso mesmo é tão engraçado.
    – Lambie
    Commented Sep 28, 2018 at 18:15

3 Answers 3

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Yes, the straps of the brassiere form loops. A "loop" is a particular circular shape, while a strap is a piece of cloth used to attach or hold down something. They are not synonyms.

As in any language, English humor is often based on how certain words sound in context. "Loop" is a funny-sounding word, plus, since George's father is dismissively describing the shape of the bra rather than the function, it adds to the overall absurdity of the situation.

"Loop" is a singular noun. You can have a single loop, or multiple loops. It is also a verb, in that something can loop around something else, like a string when tying a knot.

Many other things form loops: bag handles, neckties, some earrings, certain types of pasta or cereal, etc. You can say that the orbit of the Moon forms loops around the Earth, and the Earth forms loops around the Sun. A happy dog can run loops around its owner. Airplanes can do an acrobatic maneuver called a loop-de-loop. And so on.

(Edit) in response to Lambie's objection: The scene isn't funny because "men are clueless". Seinfeld's humor was rarely that straightforward -- in the episodes where they did talk about how men know little about women, that was the premise of the running joke, not the punchline.

My interpretation is that George's father uses "loops" as a kind of dismissive oversimplification, because his ego was hurt from being wrong about what bras are made of. The overall scene is funny because of the absurdity of the family getting so argumentative over bras.

Note that Larry David, who co-wrote and co-produced Seinfeld, was the inspiration for the character of George Costanza. Judging from the kind of humor in his other shows, it's entirely likely that scenes like this happened frequently in his family.

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    Great answer. I've noticed that you used the word brassiere. Is it really used in conversation? Does it sound "fancy" or pretentious?
    – user3395
    Commented Sep 27, 2018 at 20:45
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    "Brassiere" is probably more formal, if anything, and does make it sound somewhat more fancy or possibly old-fashioned (although George's mother's brassiere is probably as unsexy as the garment can be) In casual conversation you would just say "bra".
    – Andrew
    Commented Sep 27, 2018 at 20:50
  • There are no loops on the typical bra. That's why it's funny. "Men are clueless" about bras. Brassiere is outdated and rather quaint. Women say bra.
    – Lambie
    Commented Sep 27, 2018 at 23:19
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The definition in Cambridge dictionary is "the curved shape made when something long and thin, such as a piece of string, bends until one part of it nearly touches or crosses another part of it".

This definition describes physical loops, but the term is also used with an extended mathematical meaning of "a closed path". See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_(topology) and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_(computing) as specific examples. Also consider this SE question about electricity.

With this in mind, a bra can indeed be seen as having two loops in the back. The loops are formed by the straps and the caps. It is an unusual description, and it may be funny (especially for people who are familiar with the mathematical meaning) in a non-mathematical context.

Shopping bag handles also form loops (with the bag), but they are not loops in and of themselves. Loop, straps and handles are not synonymous.

And yes, loop is also used in singular.

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"You got the cups in the front, two loops in the back".

I do not want to view the video, so I don't know which character is talking.

BUT: it is a man. Ok,I see the other answer says George's father. He is clueless. :)

Anyway, that is a misuse, and funny too,of the word loop.

Bra straps are not loops. They go from the top of the front over the shoulders ending at the top of back of the bra on a woman's back.

It's actually very funny. A "typical man" not knowing how to describe a bra.

There are loops in the previous answer's image. :)

Bras have straps, or, they are strapless bras.

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  • You should probably watch the video. He's holding a bra in his hands as he describes it.
    – Andrew
    Commented Sep 28, 2018 at 1:45
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    @Andrew As I said, and now I have seen it, bras don't have loops. There is nothing that is a loop or that loops on a bra, which is why it is so funny. A guy like his father can't describe a bra. A loop is length of some material (metal, rubber, cloth or whatever) that must have at least one cross-over point. We need some native English speakers here who are women....and I am sorry to say that no bra is built with any kind of loop at all. Just try asking any female friend or family member....
    – Lambie
    Commented Sep 28, 2018 at 13:38

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