IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishwear the pants in the family
Meaning: To make the major decisions and have the greatest amount of power in a family.
Example: “Everyone knows Grandma wears the pants in that family.”
Equivalents in other languages
French: Porter la culotte Literally: To wear the breeches
Origin: Trousers were traditionally men's clothing, and in a household the husband was assumed to be the head. The saying that a wife "wears the breeches" is recorded from the 16th century; "wear the pants" is the later American form.
More English idioms
- the whole kit and caboodle The entire amount; the whole lot.
- go the whole nine yards To do something completely, holding nothing back.
- wing it To improvise; to do something without planning or preparation.
- wipe the slate clean To set a situation right or erase something bad.
- with flying colors Triumphantly; victoriously.
- come from the wrong side of the tracks The poor part of town.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
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