trousers

A man puts on a pair of trousers in the morning.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • An outer garment covering the body from the waist to the ankles, with a separate part for each leg: "trousers" are a standard piece of clothing worn by both men and women, typically made of fabric such as cotton, wool, or denim. They are often referred to as a "pair of trousers" because they consist of two leg sections.

Usage Examples

• (A formal garment for the lower body.)
• (Practical clothing for outdoor activities.)
• (An alteration to the garment's length.)

Advanced Usage

• "to wear the trousers": an idiomatic expression meaning to be the dominant or controlling person in a relationship or household.
  • In their marriage, it is clear that she wears the trousers. (She makes the important decisions.)
• "caught with one's trousers down": an informal idiom meaning to be caught in an embarrassing or unprepared situation.
  • The company was caught with its trousers down when the new regulations were announced. (They were unprepared for the change.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trouser (adj): relating to or used for trousers.
  • He adjusted his trouser leg before sitting down. (The leg part of the trousers.)
• Trouser suit (n): a woman's suit consisting of a jacket and matching trousers.
  • She wore a smart trouser suit to the conference. (A formal outfit.)
• Trouser press (n): a device for pressing trousers to remove wrinkles.
  • The hotel room had a trouser press for guests. (A garment-care tool.)

Synonyms

• Pants: a common synonym in American English for trousers, though in British English "pants" refers to underwear.
• Slacks: a term for loose-fitting trousers, often used in formal or business contexts.
• Jeans: a specific type of trousers made from denim, typically more casual.

Phrasal Verbs

• Trouser (verb): informal British English meaning to take or receive money, especially in a secretive or dishonest way.
  • He trousered the cash without reporting it to the tax authorities. (He kept the money for himself.)
• Trouser up: to put on trousers.
  • He trousered up quickly before answering the door. (He put on his trousers.)

Related Idioms

• "to have a hole in one's trousers": a literal or figurative expression meaning to be in a state of financial difficulty or embarrassment.
  • After losing his job, he had a hole in his trousers and couldn't afford new ones. (He was financially struggling.)
• "to be caught with one's trousers down": (see Advanced Usage above).