Pants/slacks.
Trousers
Pants/slacks.
Example Sentences
"Put on your trousers."
"New trousers for work."
Etymology & History
British term for pants, from Irish Gaelic 'triubhas'. In British English, 'pants' means underwear, 'trousers' are outer leg garments. The American/British split occurred in the 19th century. 'Put your trousers on' is British, American 'put your pants on' sounds like undressing to British ears. Major source of transatlantic confusion.
Word Details
📍
Region
General British
📅
Era
Victorian
✓
Language
Mild
💬
Formality
Informal
Categories:
Learn Another Word
🔀 Shuffle & Discover
Anglotopia's Dictionary of British English 2nd Edition
British Slang from A to Zed
By Jonathan Thomas
📚 Over 2,000+ British Slang Definitions!