be dressed in rags—be dressed in old torn clothes:
- The work was carried out manually by wretched, scarecrow figures dressed in rags.
have the rags on—(sl.)
1. wear a special kind of clothes:
- He had the rags on, getting into character, and it just took me aback for a minute.
Cf.: have the glad rags on—wear one’s best clothes or formal attire:
- Having arrived it was time to get the glad rags on and go to dinner in the town.
2. (also: have the rag on) have one’s menstrual period:
- Lana doesn’t feel like going out tonight. She’s got the rags on.