Dictionary

wear the trousers en · VERB

Meanings

1. (UK, idiomatic) Typically of a woman, to be the dominant partner in a relationship.
   • His mother wore the trousers, and father, a gentle man who worked in local government, was not ambitious enough for her. 1988, John Rowan, Windy Dryden, Innovative Therapy in Britain, page 246:
   • As long as I remember who's wearing the trousers / I hope he never lets me down again 1987, Martin L. Gore, “Never Let Me Down Again”, in Music for the Masses, performed by Depeche Mode:
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wear, trouser.

Forms

Relateds

the grey mare is the better horse

Synonyms

wear the pants · wear the breeches · rule the roost

Translations (23)

hy տան գլուխը լինել (to be the dominant partner) · fr porter le pantalon (to be the dominant partner) · fi määrätä (to be the dominant partner) · es llevar los pantalones (to be the dominant partner) · nl de broek aanhebben (to be the dominant partner) · ru быть в до́ме хозя́ином (to be the dominant partner) · pt mandar na casa (to be the dominant partner) · fr porter la culotte (to be the dominant partner) · ru верхово́дить в до́ме (to be the dominant partner) · fi näyttää kaapin paikka (to be the dominant partner) · cmn 当家 (to be the dominant partner) · nb ha buksene på (to be the dominant partner) · ro purta pantalonii (to be the dominant partner) · cs nosit kalhoty (to be the dominant partner) · de die Hosen anhaben (to be the dominant partner) · da have bukserne på (to be the dominant partner) · ca tenir la paella pel mànec (to be the dominant partner) · hu viseli a nadrágot (to be the dominant partner) · ca portar els pantalons (to be the dominant partner) · ro fi cocoș în casă (to be the dominant partner) · cs rozhodovat (to be the dominant partner) · cmn 掌权 (to be the dominant partner) · ro fi capul familiei (to be the dominant partner)