English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Ants in pants
Meaning
The idiom "ants in pants" is used to describe someone who is very active, energetic, or restless. It suggests that the person's movements or actions are fast-paced and unrelenting, similar to the behavior of ants when they are searching for food or building their nests. The idiom is often used in a positive way to describe someone who is full of energy and enthusiasm, but it can also be used negatively to describe someone who is overly anxious or fidgety.
The literal meaning of "ants in pants" is that the person's movements are like those of ants that are constantly moving around and around. The figurative meaning is that the person is extremely active, energized, or restless, often to the point of being distracted or overly anxious.
Usage
- She was so excited about the new project at work that she couldn't sit still and had "ants in her pants" all day long.
- He was a bit on the nervous side and always fidgeted with his hands, as if he had "ants in his pants".
- The children were running around like headless chickens, with "ants in their pants" and no idea what to do with themselves.
- She was so eager to get started on her new workout routine that she felt like she had "ants in her pants" every time she sat down for too long.
- He couldn't sit still during the long meeting, and felt like he had "ants in his pants" as he tried to keep himself focused.
Roots and History
The idiom "ants in pants" is believed to have originated from the early 20th century, with one of the earliest known uses appearing in a collection of sayings compiled by American writer Vachel Lindsay in 1935. The phrase has since become a common expression used to describe someone who is full of energy and enthusiasm, but may also be used negatively to describe someone who is overly anxious or fidgety. Over time, the idiom has remained largely unchanged, with no significant cultural or regional variations reported.
Synonyms in English
- Jittery
- Nervous
- Anxious
- Hyperactive
- Restless
Synonyms in other languages
- Español: nervioso/a (both masculine and feminine)
- Français: anxieux/se (both masculine and feminine)
- German: nervös/e (both masculine and feminine)
- Italian: nervoso/a (both masculine and feminine)
- Japanese: 緒めいる (anxious or nervous)