pants

 
Pronunciation: /pan(t)s/

plural noun

  • 1British underpants or knickers.
  • 2chiefly North American trousers: corduroy pants (as modifier pant) wide pant legs
  • 3British informal rubbish; nonsense: he thought we were going to be absolute pants

Phrases

catch someone with their pants (or trousers) down

informal catch someone in an embarrassingly unprepared state: it’s a wonder the government hasn’t been caught with its pants down

fly (or drive) by the seat of one's pants

informal rely on instinct rather than logic or knowledge: I was flying by the seat of my pants because I’d never managed anybody before

scare (or bore etc.) the pants off someone

informal make someone extremely scared (or bored etc.): she scared the pants off all who worked with her

Origin:

mid 19th century: abbreviation of pantaloons (see pantaloon)