What does "pants" mean?

1. (something of poor quality) something that is very bad, boring, or useless. 2. (bad or rubbish) used to describe something that is not good at all. 3. (to pull down someone's trousers) to pull someone's trousers down quickly as a joke or to embarrass them.

pants

n. · adj. · v.

US //ˈpænts// UK //pˈɑːnts// pants

1 something of poor quality (n.)
C1 Advanced British English Informal Slang

something that is very bad, boring, or useless.

something of inferior quality or worthless nature. Used as a collective noun for rubbish.

Example

The weather on our holiday was absolute pants; it rained every single day.

Example

The plot of the sequel was total pants compared to the original, relying on cheap jump scares rather than actual suspense.
2 bad or rubbish (adj.)
C1 Advanced British English Informal Slang

used to describe something that is not good at all.

of poor quality; rubbish. Used predicatively to describe a situation or object.

Example

I'm sorry you failed your driving test; that's really pants.

Example

The service at that new bistro is pretty pants, so I wouldn't recommend it for a business lunch.
- great
- excellent

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3 to pull down someone's trousers (v.)
C2 Proficiency American English Informal Slang

to pull someone's trousers down quickly as a joke or to embarrass them.

to forcibly pull down someone's trousers, typically as a prank.

Example

The bully tried to pants him in front of the whole gym class.

Example

The hazing ritual involved threatening to pants the freshmen, a practice the university has since strictly banned.
- depants

Origin

Etymology tree Ancient Greek πᾶς (pâs) Ancient Greek ἔλεος (éleos) Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Ancient Greek -έω (-éō) Ancient Greek ἐλεέω (eleéō) Proto-Indo-European *-mṓ Ancient Greek -μων (-mōn) Ancient Greek ἐλεήμων (eleḗmōn) Ancient Greek Παντελεήμων (Panteleḗmōn)bor. Spanish Pantaleónder. Italian Pantaloneder. French pantalonbor. English pantaloon English pantaloons English pants Shortened from pantaloons (“trousers”): borrowed from French pantalon, itself derived from Italian Pantalone, one of the principal characters found in commedia dell'arte, who wore tight trousers. Doublet of pantsu. The verb is from the noun.

Idioms15 entries