phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Pantywaist

Posted by Nita on March 07, 2002

In Reply to: Don't Be Such a Big Girl's Blouse posted by ESC on March 05, 2002

: Does this have any connection with calling a man a "pantywaist...an undergarment in two pieces with short pants buttoning to the shirt at the waist..." (World Book Dictionary)?

A pantywaist is more specifically a child's undergarment. Where the upper T-shirt buttons to the trunks.

I happen to always associate the phrase with boy children and boxing with the term pantywaist contrasted against the more masculine heavy weight. Also, the men fight for belts which are of course a symbol of maturity as it was common for little boys to be dressed the same as little girls until the "breeching" age, where they were first put in short pants and later in long pants.

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.