Wear the britches Meaning in English
expression
Definition
To be the person who has control or authority in a household or relationship. Usually refers to who makes the important decisions.
Usage & Nuances
This is an informal, sometimes humorous or old-fashioned phrase. Commonly used to talk about marriage or couples, suggesting who is 'in charge'. You may also see 'wear the pants', a more modern form. Avoid literal interpretation; the phrase refers to authority, not actual clothing.
Example Sentences
In our house, mom definitely wears the britches.
basic
People say Alice wears the britches in her marriage.
basic
Do you think it's important to wear the britches in a relationship?
basic
Between the two of them, it's obvious who really wears the britches.
natural
He likes to think he wears the britches, but everyone knows it's Linda.
natural
Whenever there's a big decision to make, you can tell who wears the britches around here.
natural