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When/how did the word 'pants' become an expletive in England? On a different board I haunt I've noticed UK citizens using the term 'pants' as either an expletive "Ah pants!" or as an expression of negative value: "That movie was pants!" I was just wondering where the saying came from.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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I believe it's a derivation from "crap". If you can't say "crap", what's the next nearest, um, thing?
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That makes sense. I can't think of an US-ian equivalent word using clothing. Must ponder on that.
How long has the word 'pants' been used in this way? Is it a fairly contemporary usage?
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"Pants" is short for "Hot Pants", gift horse. The tip-off, I suggest, is the "Ah" in "Ah pants" which can be traced to "the Godfather of Soul" *, James Brown: Ah hot pants won't make ya dance
But as slick as you are, ah!
You make the pants, uh!from "Hot Pants" Written by - J. Brown & F. Wesley http://snipurl.com/fvtj* 'Godfather of Soul' honored with bronze statue James Brown celebrates 72nd birthday in Georgia Associated Press, May 13, 2005 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7771924
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addict
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Can't say I've ever heard this particular usage of "pants," but the closest Americanism I can think of is that immortal catch phrase of Bart Simpson: "Eat my shorts!" 
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Thanks again, Capfka! I enjoyed your links. The last two were especially helpful for me. The phrase, "pile of pants" made me laugh. Could be rather useful in certain circumstances. 
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a singer who's probably only listened to by a very small minority of middle-aged, middle-class British people
You think "the Godfather of soul" doesn't have a following amongst Brits of all ages and skin colorations even today?
Do you think there is any Brit of just about any age who hasn't heard "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"?
Do you think they stopped broadcasting popular music from the 50's and 60's in Britain 35 years ago?
I agree your "popular theory" may be right, but a "popular theory" is just a theory -- just like mine. :)
Who's your daddy, Capfka?
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Who's your daddy, Capfka?
At least I can say I have one. There's so many of you that some of you must have been conceived out of what might laughingly pass for wedlock ..
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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> a "popular theory" is just a theory -- just like mine. :)
Rubbish. It's atttested by a string of evidence - it derives from British student life at three or four univesities at around the same time (based on evidence from people like the OED man Quinion quotes) and was widely popularised by Simon Mayo on national radio, from whence it got picked up by all the kids and used in a major national charity event. It's clearly a UK usage since pants means something entirely different in the States and does not have negative connotations.
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