Keep Your Pants On

Also: Keep your shirt on

Meaning of Idiom ‘Keep Your (or one’s) Pants On’

When someone is told to keep their pants on, it means they should be patient and wait calmly. ¹

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Usage

‘Keep your pants on’ is usually said to a person who is being impatient and seems agitated by having to wait. It is way of saying ‘Don’t make me rush!’

Examples of Use

“Are you ready to go? We’re going to be late!” said John. “Keep your pants on, I’m almost ready,” said Jane.

“Tom says he needs you to come help him right now,” said Rob. “Tell him to keep his pants on,” said Tom. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“I really need this paperwork to ready in the next hour, said Frank. “Okay, keep your shirt on, I’m working on it,” said Victoria.

Origin

Used since the early 1900’s and perhaps earlier, this idiom and its variation originally mean ‘stay calm’ or ‘don’t get excited.’ It is unknown what not removing one’s pants or shirt has to do with staying calm or waiting.

More Idioms Starting with K

• Kick the Tires
• Know Something Like the Back Of One’s Hand
• Know Where One Stands
• Keep a Lookout Meaning
• Keep an Eye Out Meaning

More Clothing Related Idioms

• Buttonhole Someone
• Empty Suit
• Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
• Take off Something
• Put On

More Keep Idioms

• Keep an Eye Out Meaning
• Keep Your Eyes Peeled Meaning
• Keep an Open Mind
• Keep A Straight Face
• Keep a Stiff Upper Lip

More On Idioms

• Trip On
• Lot Riding On Something, a
• Egg On
• Big On Something
• On a Roll

More Shirt Idioms

• Give the Shirt Off One’s Back

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References

1. Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.