wear the breeches

wear the breeches
   to be the dominant partner in a relationship between a man and a woman
   Usually of the woman, from the days when only men wore the breech, breeches, trousers, or (in America) pants:
    That you might still have worn the
   petticoat,
   And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster. (Shakespeare, 3 Henry N)
    Helpmate, a thick, stubborn-looking lady of 40, childless, and most likely wearing the breeches. {Century Magazine, July 1882)
    [She] is even more predatory than he is.. .This film's brassy flouting of money, power, and sex appeal would appear naïve no matter who wore the pants, as they used to say. (New York Times, 12 July 1992)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • wear the breeches — (of the female in a (usu marital) relationship) to be in charge • • • Main Entry: ↑breech …   Useful english dictionary

  • To wear the breeches — Wear Wear, v. t. [imp. {Wore} (w[=o]r); p. p. {Worn} (w[=o]rn); p. pr. & vb. n. {Wearing}. Before the 15th century wear was a weak verb, the imp. & p. p. being {Weared}.] [OE. weren, werien, AS. werian to carry, to wear, as arms or clothes; akin… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To wear the breeches — Breeches Breech es (br[i^]ch [e^]z), n. pl. [OE. brech, brek, AS. br[=e]k, pl. of br[=o]c breech, breeches; akin to Icel. br[=o]k breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek, G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. {Brail}.] 1. A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wear — Wear, v. t. [imp. {Wore} (w[=o]r); p. p. {Worn} (w[=o]rn); p. pr. & vb. n. {Wearing}. Before the 15th century wear was a weak verb, the imp. & p. p. being {Weared}.] [OE. weren, werien, AS. werian to carry, to wear, as arms or clothes; akin to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Breeches — Breech es (br[i^]ch [e^]z), n. pl. [OE. brech, brek, AS. br[=e]k, pl. of br[=o]c breech, breeches; akin to Icel. br[=o]k breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek, G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. {Brail}.] 1. A garment worn… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Breeches buoy — Breeches Breech es (br[i^]ch [e^]z), n. pl. [OE. brech, brek, AS. br[=e]k, pl. of br[=o]c breech, breeches; akin to Icel. br[=o]k breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek, G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. {Brail}.] 1. A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Breeches pipe — Breeches Breech es (br[i^]ch [e^]z), n. pl. [OE. brech, brek, AS. br[=e]k, pl. of br[=o]c breech, breeches; akin to Icel. br[=o]k breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek, G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf. {Brail}.] 1. A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • The Revolutionists stop for Orangeade — is a poem from the second, 1931,edition of Wallace Stevens s first book of poetry, Harmonium. It was firstpublished in 1931, [Bates, p. 235] so it is restricted by copyright until 2025 inAmerica and similar jurisdictions, because of legislation… …   Wikipedia

  • breeches — noun /bɹɪitʃəz,bɹɪtʃəz/ a) A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes. And how then was the Devil drest? b) Trousers; pantaloons; britches. Oh! he was in his Sundays best: See Also …   Wiktionary

  • Breeches — (pronounced IPA| [ˈbritʃɪz] ) are an item of male clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. The breeching of a young… …   Wikipedia

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