in short pants en · ADP
Etymology
From an early 20th century practice of reserving short pants only for small children.
Meanings
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(Canada, US, idiomatic) Synonym of in short trousers (“quite young”).
Dr. Smith said a moment ago that we are scientifically adult but spiritually in short pants.
1948, Albert Craig Baird, Lester Thonssen, Waldo Warder Braden, Owen Peterson, Representative American Speeches:Look, honey, this ain't my first rodeo, OK? I was doing this when you were in short pants.
Near-synonym: in diapers
Relateds
big-girl pants · big-boy pants