What it means
Completely naked, not a stitch on you. It comes from stark naked, and it’s the sort of daft, slightly cheeky word that makes the whole situation feel less scandalous in broad daylight. Usually pops up when someone’s been caught out, woken up after a messy night, or done something spectacularly ill-advised for no good reason.
Usage examples
"Pulled the curtains and the neighbour was in the kitchen starkers, buttering toast. He clocked me, gave a cheeky wave, then scarpered upstairs."
"He ran across the garden starkers for a dare, then realised the neighbours were having a barbecue."
"I was getting changed for the pool, half starkers, when the changing room door swung wide open."
"I opened the hotel room door and there was Dan starkers, blow-drying his socks like that was somehow the normal bit."
"She thought everyone had gone to bed, wandered into the hall starkers, and walked straight into her aunt making tea."
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Where it comes from
It comes from British English stark naked, with starkers turning up by the late 1800s as a jokier, more chatty spin on it. That -ers ending gives it a matey, slightly daft bounce, so saying someone’s starkers sounds less grave and more like the start of a very silly story.
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