Do you ever think about how the phrase "I wear the pants in this family!" Has very different meanings of said in the UK vs the US?

Upon looking it up, the US actually uses it closer to is original definition which was shorthand for pantaloons. The word underpants came into play using that shorthand as what gets worn under the pantaloons. And then the UK decided to shorthand their word derived from shorthand into pants completely overwriting the original definition for the word used in the compound word.

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PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

I have been interested in UK TV for awhile but was not always as well versed in the colloquialisms. So around 2006 I was watching Sugar Rush and was very very confused as to why one girl got punched after showing up at someone's door and announcing she was not wearing pants which to a Canadian it seemed like she very much was.

And I am given to understand that the 90s fad of the fanny pack is decidedly more vulgar across the pond too.

MethDozer · M

So what does the phrase mean in the UK? You haven't explained the supposed different meanings of the phrase

ViciDraco · 41-45, M

@MethDozer in the UK its underwear, often used as a term for underwear worn by women from what I see.

MethDozer · M

@ViciDraco right, but how does that give a different meaning to the phrase?

(From what I been lead to believe pants is just underwear. Knickers is women's panties.)

LowBorn

NativePortlander1970 ·

Hence, who wears the trousers in the family?

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