Trousers
Meaning: Pants (American)
Trousers is the standard British word for what Americans call pants—the legwear you put on every morning. This creates the most embarrassing transatlantic vocabulary trap: if a British person mentions their 'pants' in America, it's unremarkable; if they mention 'pants' to Brits, they're talking about underwear. Wallace's quest for his 'wrong trousers' perfectly captures the British term. The word sounds more formal to American ears but is completely standard in British English.
Examples
- Smart trousers for the interview. 面试穿正装裤。Pantalones elegantes para la entrevista.面接にはちゃんとしたズボン。면접에는 깔끔한 바지를 입어.
- These trousers are too tight. 这条裤子太紧了。Estos pantalones me quedan muy ajustados.このズボンきつすぎる。이 바지 너무 꽉 껴.
- Where are my trousers? 我的裤子在哪?¿Dónde están mis pantalones?ズボンどこ?내 바지 어디 있어?
- Formal trousers required.需要穿正装裤。Se requieren pantalones formales.フォーマルなズボンが必要。격식 바지 착용 필수.
Pronunciation
/ˈtraʊzəz/
Usage Guide
Context: clothing, everyday
Tone: neutral, standard
✓ Do Say
- Trousers.裤子Pantalonesズボン바지.
- Smart trousers.正装裤Pantalones elegantesちゃんとしたズボン깔끔한 바지.
- Pair of trousers.一条裤子Un par de pantalonesズボン一本바지 한 벌.
✗ Don't Say
- British 'pants' = underwear!英式:trousers,美式:pantsBritánico: trousers, Americano: pantsイギリス式:trousers、アメリカ式:pants영국에서 'pants'는 속옷을 뜻함!
- Important distinction英国人说pants是指内裤!¡Los británicos usan 'pants' para ropa interior!イギリスでpantsは下着を意味する!중요한 구분
Common Mistakes
- British trousers = American pants
- British pants = American underwear
Origin & History
Trousers derives from Gaelic 'triubhas,' meaning close-fitting legwear—it entered English via Scotland and Ireland. The American 'pants' is a shortening of 'pantaloons' (long trousers named after a commedia dell'arte character). As British and American English diverged, 'pants' narrowed in Britain to mean underwear while remaining outerwear in America. This creates the infamous confusion: British 'I've got to buy some pants' means underwear; American 'I've got to buy some pants' means trousers.
Etymology: From Gaelic 'triubhas' (close-fitting garment)
First recorded: English usage from 17th century
Cultural Context
Era: 17th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Wallace and Gromit: 'Wrong trousers'; British clothing terminology
Regional notes: British standard. Critical difference from American 'pants.'
Variations
Related Phrases
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