pants - shorts

In British English, pants are a piece of clothing worn by men, women, or children under their other clothes. Pants have two holes to put your legs through and elastic round the waist or hips to keep them up. Men's pants are sometimes referred to as underpants. Women's pants are sometimes referred to as panties or knickers.

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In American English, men's pants are usually referred to as shorts or underpants. Women's pants are usually referred to as panties.

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In American English, pants are men's or women's trousers.

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In both British and American English, shorts are also short trousers that leave your knees and part of your thighs bare.

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Both pants and shorts are plural nouns. You use a plural form of a verb with them.

The pants were big in the waist.

His grey shorts were sticking to him with sweat.

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◊ WARNING

You do not talk about `a pants' or `a shorts'. You say a pair of pants or a pair of shorts.

It doesn't take long to choose a pair of pants.

He wore the remains of a pair of shorts.

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You usually use a singular form of a verb with a pair of pants or a pair of shorts.

I like a pair of pants that fits well.

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