Word
drawers
Phoneticsdraw·ers
/ˈdɹɔɹz/
Definitions
01furniture compartments
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. the plural form of drawer; sliding boxes in a piece of furniture used for storage.
n. the plural form of 'drawer', referring to the sliding, box-like compartments in a desk, chest, or cabinet.
“He searched through all the desk drawers looking for his passport.”
“The antique dresser featured hand-carved drawers that glided smoothly despite being over a century old.”
Pitfall
I put my socks in the chest of drawer.
I put my socks in the chest of drawers.
The furniture item is always called a 'chest of drawers' in the plural, even if you are only using one part of it.
Synonyms
02underpants
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Informal · Archaic · Dialect
n. an old-fashioned or informal word for underpants.
n. a plural-only noun referring to undergarments covering the lower torso and legs.
“The old man complained about having to wash his long drawers by hand.”
“In Victorian literature, the term 'drawers' frequently referred to the linen undergarments worn beneath heavy trousers or skirts.”
Usage
Always used in the plural form; takes a plural verb.
Synonyms
03trousers or shorts
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Slang · Dialect
n. a slang word for any clothes that cover your legs, like trousers or shorts.
n. a slang or dialectal term for any leg-covering garment, including trousers, shorts, or tights.
“He spilled juice all over his new drawers before the party started.”
“The local dialect used 'drawers' to describe everything from athletic shorts to formal trousers, often confusing visitors to the region.”
Teaching tip
This sense is highly regional and informal; learners should generally use 'trousers' or 'pants' to avoid being misunderstood as referring to underwear.
Etymology
See drawer.
From draw (“to pull”), hence that which is pulled onto the body. Attested from the late 16th century. Compare drawer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. get the drawers
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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