big-boy pants

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Pull-up underwear worn by a boy during and after toilet training, as contrasted to the…

   Pull-up underwear worn by a boy during and after toilet training, as contrasted to the diapers worn during infancy.

   • Taking the baby from Kidd she snatched the screaming Davey by the wrist and half-carried him up the stairs yelling, "You wanna wear big-boy pants? Big boys wear big-boy pants, but big boys use the potty!"
   • "And so," you continue, "I'm putting your diapers away because you can now wear big boy pants and do your poop and pee-pee in the potty chair all by yourself."
   • “We've switched to big-boy pants. No more diapers,” his mom said a little too loud, so Alec would hear.
2. 2

   A notional pair of trousers or underwear worn by a male when acting maturely.

   • If Horwitz is planning on running for office again in the future (and it certainly looks that way), perhaps it's time he put on his big-boy pants and engage in civil discourse.
   • He needs to put on his big boy pants and make the tough choice.
   • Even with a broken finger, Wach put on his big boy pants, wrapped his hand, and dominated on the offensive line all game.

The neighborhood

• neighborin short pants