early doors

Meanings

Adverb

• Early; at a time before expected; sooner than usual.

Adjective

• Early, near the start or beginning.

Noun

• Women's drawers.

Origin

• According to some, the phrase originated at a time when English pubs closed in the afternoon as a term for customers who were waiting or arrived soon after the pub re-opened in the evening. Alternatively, the phrase is said to originate in the theatre world, where it described a facility available to early-arriving members of the audience, who were allowed to avoid the crush and choose the best seats in return for paying a small premium.