IdiomAnimals

English

ants in one's pants

Meaning: Restless, unable to sit still.

Example: “The kids have ants in their pants before the school trip.”

Origin: As if ants were crawling inside one's clothes. American slang from the 1920s and 1930s.

Equivalents in other languages

German: Hummeln im Hintern haben Literally: To have bumblebees in your behind
Spanish: ser culo de mal asiento Literally: To be bottom of bad seat
French: Être piqué de la tarentule Literally: To be bitten by the tarantula

See all 4 languages side by side →

More English idioms

let's hit the road Let's leave; let's get going.
gone with the wind Gone forever, vanished without a trace.
without fanfare Quietly, without any publicity.
a Herculean task An extremely difficult job requiring huge effort.
on the sidelines Not taking an active part; left out.
a stab in the back A betrayal by someone one trusted.

Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

Educado Actually means 'polite' or 'well-mannered'. For educated (schooled), say instruído.
Balcão Actually means 'counter' — in a shop, bar or bank. A balcony is uma varanda.
Injúria Actually means 'insult' or 'slander'. A physical injury is uma lesão or um ferimento.

Browse all false friends →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →