You can use phraseologism in colloquial speech without thinking about its origin. But an appeal to the history of the emergence of one or another stable expression will not only expand linguistic knowledge, but also allow you to find out some moments of history.
The expression "sewn with white thread" is used in the meaning of distrust. Thus, an attempt is described to provide clearly fraudulent facts as evidence, the obviousness of the falsification of which is not in doubt.
Where did the expression come from?
At first glance, all the components of the expression refer to tailoring. Even a person who is far from sewing understands that prior to joining the parts of the product cleanly, a preliminary outline is required. Basting, as a rule, is done with threads of contrasting color, so that it is easier to remove it later.
In this meaning, expression is used among literary classics. From Gogol’s correspondence with friends, “And I do it right! In no case should I have given out an essay that, although it was cut out well, but somehow sewn together with white thread, like a dress brought by a tailor only for fitting.” As can be seen from the context, the expression "sewn with white thread" is used in the meaning of "unfinished work."
That is, if we take the origin of phraseology from tailor's craft, it is in the meaning of the unfinished work that the meaning should be perceived. If you do not depart from the tailor's theme, the expression "on a live thread" in the meaning of "hastily" is more appropriate.
However, the Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian language, and all explanatory dictionaries, decipher the expression as "Debt. Neglect. Roughly faked; awkward, ineptly hidden something."
Doubts cannot but arise if one recalls the combination in which the phraseologism “Case is sewn with white thread” is most often used. In this case, it is advisable to consider the word “case” as a term of legal proceedings.
