Sue Le Feuvre

By UrbanDonkey

A smoker…

And a curved wall with diamond shaped tiles for Abstract Thursday; shapes.
My saying today is ‘put on your big boy pants’. The origin is pretty obvious to anyone my age but you young ‘uns may not be familiar with little boys with chapped legs as they walked to school in freezing or wet weather wearing shorts;-))

The idiom "put on your big boy pants" originated from the literal transition from short pants to long pants, signifying a boy's passage into adulthood. The phrase is a metaphorical way of telling someone to act more maturely, take responsibility, or deal with a difficult situation. It's a call to "man up" or "step up" in the face of adversity.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Literal Origin:
In the past, particularly in the early to mid-20th century, young boys often wore short pants, transitioning to long pants around the age of 12 or 13. This change in attire symbolised a shift towards adulthood.
Metaphorical Meaning:
The phrase "put on your big boy pants" uses this literal transition to encourage someone to adopt a more mature and responsible attitude.
Context:
It's often used when someone is hesitant to face a challenge, avoid taking responsibility, or is behaving immaturely. The phrase encourages them to confront the situation head-on, like an adult would.

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