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Wear the Trousers

What Does "Wear the Trousers" Mean?

homeidiomsWear the Trousers
"Wear the trousers" is an English idiom. It means "to be the dominant or controlling person in a relationship or situation." (Historically, it referred to the person (often the man) who made the decisions in a household.)

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "wear the trousers" used in a sentence:
  • In their relationship, it's clear that she wears the trousers.
  • Everyone thinks he's in charge, but we all know who really wears the trousers.
  • It's a modern relationship, and neither of them strictly 'wears the trousers'.
meaning for wear the trousers

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Wear the Trousers" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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