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.
I believe it's a derivation from "crap". If you can't say "crap", what's the next nearest, um, thing?
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?
"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
Wow, we have a British expression which was originated by an obscure line in a song from a singer who's probably only listened to by a very small minority of middle-aged, middle-class British people? Hmmm. Let's just ignore the most popular theory, that it came from the youth of the early to mid-1990s, then!
Anyway, here's someone who seems to at least partially agree with me:
http://english2american.com/dictionary/cat_clothing.htmland another definition:
http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/p.htmand an interesting (and embarrassing) example of usage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/e-cyclopedia/1076585.stmand, finally, what Michael Quinion has to say:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/topicalwords/tw-pan4.htm
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!"
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.
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?
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 ..
> 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.
you must have been conceived out of what might laughingly pass for wedlock ..
Hey, Carpathian may have been conceived out of wedlock, but I wasn't conceived out of warlock.
Just funnin' with ya, Capfka. You're just an aspirant for the olicarpy, but you have all the necessary attributes to meet their rigorous, malevolent standards.
Keep up the good work. :)
By the way, which of the "so many" of me are you referring to from the time Carpathian first appeared here over two months ago identifying himself as the former "turn-the-other-cheek" Plutarch?
And how many other me's appeared as Plutarch, and only as Plutarch, for perhaps 6 months, during the last three of which Plutarch was harassed and bullied by the olicarpy with the usual libels and vulgarities and gratuitous insults and innuendos without once seeking refuge in another handle, and without once offering offence or responding to offence, however flagrant the provocation.
And how many other me's who have posted here off and on for over 3 years [producing in total perhaps 1/4 of the sheer bulk necessary to achieve Carpal Tunnel status] have ever once deceived anyone at any time about the continuity of my various handles, each of which undisguised personalities was individually targeted and harassed at the get-go by the usual snarling Carpal elite employing the same sort of small-minded, mean-spirited tactics for which you have displayed, both now and in the past, an obvious talent.
Rubbish. It's atttested by a string of evidence ...
Maverick, that's the closest thing to a reasoned argument I have seen you post since I arrived here as Carpathian over two months ago.
Good for you.