Pants.

[Kay]

Im confused. Why do people use this perfectly normal name to describe something thats rubbish? Its as daft as saying.... " TV tonight was Coat"!!

[smudge]

I know - it gets to me too FINA!!!!

[chiswickk]

i feel your pain fina, recently there was a thread on here with the same. i couldn't fathom what was meant, or the gist of the topic. i finally had to leave it alone.

[SaxyJag]

Not really. I mean, pants do tend to become manky and smelly on a rather more regular basis than coats.

Not that mine do, you understand!!!

[B00]

Awww, I love that saying, there's a whole lot worse we could be saying isn't there?

[milly143]

ha ha, I don't know why. It's a good point. Sadly I say it all the time. I think it's to avoid alternatives such as naughty words but then I could always just say rubbish.

[Kay]

Saxyjag, I can see your point but a worn out,smelly pair of pants would surely be classed as " Old Pants"?. smudge and chiswikk Im so glad Im not the only one who finds this saying pointless.silly and irritating!

[madham]

I think it is swish, but then so is mint, maybe I should start saying, ooh that's so corriander!

[smudge]

But why can't people just say "Rubbish"?

[Quizmonster]

�Pants' is simply an updating of/variation on �knickers' in the sense of �rubbish'. The knickers/pants idea and their meaning of �rubbish' can be confirmed if you click here for an explanation by a well-known etymologist/lexicographer.

[yinyang]

'Pants ' is how my four year olds describe something they don't like and I think it sounds more innocent for them to say that than rubbish or garbage. Does cause a certain amount of confusion with their 85 year old great grandparents though!
Anyway it's not nearly as bad as saying 'laters' when you leave someone.Are people really so lazy they can't be bothered to say 'see you later'?

[smudge]

I beg to differ, but everyone to their own.

Our grandchildren say "It's silly, it's ridiculous, or it's rubbish" whatever suits. If they did start saying "It's pants", they would soon be corrected by us, their parents & their school teachers!

[yinyang]

Likeyou said smudge. Each to their own.I didn't say it was the only expression my children use - they also say silly or daft and know that certain things they say in the home are not appropriate at nursery. They are very well mannered, articulate girls and I'm as proud of them as I'm sure you are of your grandchildren.

[kick3m0n]

I like "pants" as a description of something rubbish. It also ties in nicely with the recently coined "big pants week"...ever such an appropriate phrase, in so many ways.

[smudge]

yinyang - I didn't mean it personally to you, so apologies if it appeared that way.

All children come out with some classics at times, but pants isn't one I've heard our's say - yet!

BTW - I still have the lovely 'Happiness Box' list you posted on here some time back. No hard feelings eh?

[yinyang]

okat Smudge,we're still friends. It can be hard to tell how things are meant when they're written down and like any mum I'll defend my children to the hilt!
When I hear the language of some of the children at nursery I'm glad pants is the worst my girls say!
Fina, I apologise for hi-jacking your thread. Normal business can resume now!

[yinyang]

p.s that should be 'okay Smudge' ,not okat.sorry.

[Goodsoulette]

I love the words pant to describe cr@ppy things. In fact this question is pants for even questioning the phrase. Are you my Grandad he would ask this sort of question?? ; )

[Goodsoulette]

I also like numpty and spoon for insults.....

[smudge]

Thank you yin. ;o}

We live near a private school (from age 4...), where the little girls wear 'posh' boater hats & blazers, etc. I was walking past there only a few weeks ago & as one little girl climbed out of her Mummy's car, I heard her say "Oh, sh!t, I've dropped my my satchel". Her Mother who was standing right next to her did not bat an eye lid. So it just goes to show!

[chiswickk]

there are many different age groups here and some are not as trendy as the other.

i myself did not know pants means rubbish, and am not old, mind you. why can't we be simple and to the point?

maybe i am missing some points lol