That Pants

[Lonnie]

have tou notice, that instead of sying 'thats rubbish', or, 'that stinks', all of a sudden people are saying 'thats pants', I don't know, but is it an Americanism?,

Personally, I can't stand it. another corruption of our language.

[Ethel]

It won't last, lonnie. There will be something else next year.

It is just part of street culture that changes with the next batch of teenagers.

I'm sure you can remember phrases or words from your youth that drove your parents to distraction.

Groovy, man.

[lankeela]

First time I heard this it was said by Steve McDonald on Corrie. Wondered what he meant and where it came from, but now its said all over the place.

[Hammond Egg]

If something is worse than pants, is it underpants?

[Quizmonster]

Click here for information on its origin/meaning.

[Lonnie]

Thanks QM, you've come through again, most interesting.

Ethal, a dead Groovy answer, and your so very right, I think i'm turning into a Grumopy Old Man.

[stoo_pid]

That link points out that the expression arose as student slang sometime around 1992/93 but the first time I personally heard it being used was 1990. I was visiting a friend who had recently moved to Reading. The people she was sharing the house with used the expression all the time. I'm afraid I never thought to ask them where they got it from but if it makes any difference, they were all budding rock musicians & none of them had ever been to university.

[Quizmonster]

Well, Stoo, there is, of course, a university in Reading and the link does say the word was used (quote) "on posters advertising bands". It could well be that the usage by the 'budding rock stars' drifted into student lingo.

[IggyB]

i don't think i hear it very often these days - when i was a young teen it was very popular, about 12 or 13 years ago.

so maybe its making a comeback?

[stoo_pid]

Hi quizmonster. Sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was disputing the accuracy of the piece, I was trying to empahsise that it isn't a new expression & that it had been around for at least 16 years. It does seem likely there is some sort of connection between Heavy Metal, universities and pants!