English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Keep your pants on
Meaning
The idiom "keep your pants on" is used to tell someone to be patient or wait until the right time to act. It can also mean to stay calm or composed during a stressful situation. The metaphorical meaning suggests that one's emotions are being restrained, similar to how one would keep their pants from falling down.
Usage
- "Don't get too excited yet, we still need to wait for the test results."
- "She kept her pants on during the presentation even though she didn't know the answers."
- "When he found out his flight was delayed, he just kept his pants on and waited patiently."
- "After missing her bus, she waited an hour for the next one and kept her pants on throughout the journey."
- "He kept his pants on during the interview, even though he was nervous about getting the job."
Roots and History
The origin of this idiom is not clear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the practice of wearing suspenders or braces to hold up one's pants during heavy labor or physical activity. If a person started to bend over or lift something heavy, their pants might fall down if they didn't keep them pulled up. Therefore, the phrase "keep your pants on" came to mean staying in control and not getting too excited or out of hand.
Synonyms in English
- Wait patiently
- Stay calm
- Hold your horses
- Don't rush
- Give it time
Synonyms in other languages
- Español: "espera un momento"
- Français: "attendez un instant"
- German: "warten Sie für einige Minuten"
- Italian: "aspettate una pochissima"
- Dutch: "wacht een momentje"