wear the pants in the family 一家之主
【讲解】
该习语源于男性统治社会的习俗。从前的社会男性占统治地位,在家庭中也如此,女性处于从属地位。由于一般男子穿裤子,女子穿裙子,穿裤子遂成为统治、支配的象征。例如:Mr. Jones is henpecked by his wife. She wears the pants in the family.(琼斯先生怕老婆,他太太当家。)
【对话】
A:Our foreign teacher let us guess the meaning of "wear the pants in the family" today.
A:我们的外教今天让我们猜“wear the pants in the family”这个成语的含义。
B:Who knows?
B:有人知道呜?
A:Nobody. You know?
A:没人,你知道吗?
B:Of course. It means "be the head of the family".
B:当然,它的意思是“一家之主”。
A:I see!
A:原来如此!