Pants

Slang Term British ★★★★★ Very Common Casual
Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci

Meaning: Underwear (British); also 'rubbish/bad' (slang)

内裤(英式英语);也指'糟糕/差劲'(俚语)
Ropa interior (británico); también 'horrible/malo' (argot)
下着(イギリス英語); また「ひどい/ダメ」(スラング)
속옷(영국 영어); 또한 '형편없는/별로인'(슬랭)

In Britain, pants means underwear—asking someone about their 'nice pants' is talking about their knickers! But pants has a second British meaning: rubbish, bad, disappointing. 'That film was absolute pants' means it was terrible. This slang usage likely comes from the embarrassment of exposed underwear or the phrase 'caught with your pants down.' So pants in Britain is either underwear or an expression of disappointment, but never the thing you wear over your underwear.

在英国,pants指的是内裤——夸别人的'nice pants'是在说他们的内裤!但pants在英式英语中还有第二个意思:糟糕、差劲、令人失望。'That film was absolute pants'意思是'那部电影太烂了'。这个俚语用法可能源于内裤暴露的尴尬,或者'caught with your pants down(措手不及)'这个短语。所以在英国,pants要么指内裤,要么是表达失望的用语,但绝不是穿在内裤外面的裤子。
En Gran Bretaña, pants significa ropa interior: preguntar por los 'nice pants' de alguien es hablar de su ropa interior. Pero pants tiene un segundo significado británico: horrible, malo, decepcionante. 'That film was absolute pants' significa que fue terrible. Este uso probablemente viene de la vergüenza de mostrar la ropa interior o de la expresión 'caught with your pants down' (pillado desprevenido). Así que pants en Gran Bretaña es ropa interior o una expresión de decepción, pero nunca la prenda que se lleva sobre la ropa interior.
イギリスではpantsは下着を意味します。誰かの「nice pants」を褒めるのは、パンツ(下着)の話をしていることになります!しかしpantsにはもう一つのイギリスでの意味があります:ひどい、ダメ、がっかりという意味です。「That film was absolute pants」は「あの映画はひどかった」という意味です。このスラング用法は、下着が見えてしまう恥ずかしさや「caught with your pants down(不意を突かれる)」というフレーズに由来しているようです。イギリスではpantsは下着か、がっかりを表す表現であり、下着の上に履くものではありません。
영국에서 pants는 속옷을 의미합니다. 누군가에게 'nice pants'라고 하면 속옷 이야기를 하는 것입니다! 하지만 pants에는 두 번째 영국식 의미도 있습니다: 형편없는, 별로인, 실망스러운. 'That film was absolute pants'는 영화가 끔찍했다는 뜻입니다. 이 슬랭 용법은 속옷이 드러나는 당혹감이나 'caught with your pants down(허를 찔리다)'이라는 표현에서 유래한 것으로 보입니다. 영국에서 pants는 속옷이거나 실망을 표현하는 말이지, 속옷 위에 입는 바지를 의미하지 않습니다.

Examples

  1. Pack enough pants for the trip.
    旅行多带些内裤。
    Mete suficiente ropa interior para el viaje.
    旅行用に十分な下着を詰めて。
    여행용 속옷 충분히 챙겨.
  2. That film was pants!' (bad)
    那部电影太烂了!=差劲
    ¡Esa película fue horrible! = mala
    あの映画はひどかった!=ダメだった
    그 영화 완전 별로였어! = 형편없었어
  3. Don't show your pants!
    别露出内裤!
    ¡No enseñes la ropa interior!
    下着を見せないで!
    속옷 보이게 하지 마!
  4. Absolute pants, that performance.
    那个表演简直糟透了。
    Esa actuación fue pésima.
    あのパフォーマンスは最悪だった。
    그 공연은 정말 최악이었어.

Pronunciation

/pænts/

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, slang criticism

Tone: everyday or dismissive (slang)

✓ Do Say

  • Pants (underwear).
    Pants=内裤。
    Pants = ropa interior.
    パンツ=下着。
    Pants = 속옷.
  • That's pants! (bad).
    太差了!=差劲。
    ¡Eso es malísimo! = malo.
    ひどい!=ダメ。
    완전 별로야! = 형편없어.
  • Absolute pants.
    糟透了。
    Una porquería total.
    最悪。
    완전 쓰레기야.

✗ Don't Say

  • Don't use for trousers in UK!
    在英国不要用来指裤子!
    ¡No usar para pantalones en el Reino Unido!
    イギリスではズボンの意味で使わないこと!
    영국에서는 바지(trousers) 뜻으로 쓰지 마세요!
  • Context makes meaning clear
    根据语境意思很明确
    El contexto aclara el significado
    文脈で意味は明確になる
    문맥으로 의미 구분 가능

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

Both British and American 'pants' derive from 'pantaloons'—trousers named after the commedia dell'arte character Pantalone. As the words diverged across the Atlantic in the 19th century, British usage narrowed 'pants' to mean just undergarments while Americans retained it for outer legwear. The British slang meaning (bad/rubbish) emerged in the late 20th century, possibly from the embarrassment associated with exposed underwear or 'caught with your pants down.'

Etymology: From pantaloons; slang meaning separate origin

First recorded: Underwear meaning from 19th century; slang meaning late 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century (underwear); late 20th (slang)

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common British misunderstanding with Americans; Kids' show humor

Regional notes: British meaning very different from American!

Variations

PantsThat's pantsAbsolute pants

Related Phrases

More From This Topic

Brolly ★★★★★ An umbrella Wellies ★★★★★ Wellington boots, rubber boots Trainers ★★★★★ Athletic shoes, sneakers Jumper ★★★★★ Sweater, pullover Trousers ★★★★★ Pants (American) Nappy ★★★★★ Diaper
X / Twitter WhatsApp Facebook

More from Everyday Objects

Practice "Pants" on WordLoci

Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free