Sue the pants off Meaning in English

expression

US

SOO thuh PANTS awf

UK

SOO thuh PAHNTS off

Definition

To take someone to court and win so overwhelmingly that they lose a lot of money or assets; a humorous and exaggerated way to say you'll beat someone badly in a lawsuit.

Usage & Nuances

This phrase is informal and humorous, mainly used in conversation or media. It does not refer to literally removing someone's pants, but to winning so completely in a lawsuit that the other person loses nearly everything. Commonly found as 'I'll sue the pants off you/him/her/them'. Not for use in formal legal writing.

• Spanish: exprimir a alguien en una demanda - demandar y ganar mucho dinero
• Portuguese (BR): processar e ganhar tudo de alguém
• Portuguese (PT): processar e ganhar tudo de alguém
• Chinese (Simplified): 狠狠地起诉某人 - 把某人告得倾家荡产
• Chinese (Traditional): 狠狠地起訴某人 - 把某人告得傾家蕩產
• Hindi: किसी को बुरी तरह से कोर्ट में हराना
• Arabic: رفع دعوى قضائية على شخص وسلب كل ما يملك
• Bengali: জবরদস্ত মামলায় জয়লাভ করা - সম্পত্তি কেড়ে নেওয়া (আইনি অর্থে)
• Russian: по-судиться так, что разорит - засудить до нитки
• Japanese: 徹底的に訴える - 有り金を根こそぎとる訴訟を起こす
• Vietnamese: kiện cho tán gia bại sản - kiện tới tơi tả
• Korean: 철저히 고소하다 - 속된 뜻으로 완전히 파산시키다
• Turkish: mahkemede süründürmek - mahkemede yenik düşürüp soyup soğana çevirmek
• Urdu: زبردست مقدمہ کر کے سب کچھ چھین لینا
• Indonesian: menuntut habis-habisan - menggugat sampai bangkrut

Example Sentences

If you copy his book, he'll sue the pants off you.

basic

The company said they would sue the pants off anyone who used their logo.

basic

She threatened to sue the pants off her neighbor over the fence.

basic

You mess with her business, she'll sue the pants off you.

natural

They’re not joking—those lawyers will sue the pants off you for copyright.

natural

My ex tried to sue the pants off me, but the judge didn't agree.

natural