hot pants: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, colloquial, humorous, potentially dated.
Quick answer
What does “hot pants” mean?
A type of very short, tight-fitting shorts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of very short, tight-fitting shorts.
Beyond the garment, it can figuratively describe a state of eager or impatient excitement, especially in the phrase "have/get hot pants for (someone/something)".
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the core meaning of the garment. The figurative phrase "hot pants for someone/something" is more common in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is somewhat nostalgic or retro. It can carry a mildly humorous or ironic tone when used today.
Frequency
Low frequency in modern fashion discourse, occasionally appears in historical/retro contexts or in the idiomatic expression.
Grammar
How to Use “hot pants” in a Sentence
wear + hot pantsa pair of hot pantshot pants for + NP (figurative)have/get hot pants for + NPVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hot pants” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was hot-panting after the new promotion.
- (rare, non-standard, derived from idiom)
American English
- He's totally hot-panting for that new car.
- (rare, non-standard, derived from idiom)
adjective
British English
- It was a hot-pants era of fashion.
- (attributive use, hyphenated)
American English
- The hot-pants trend is making a comeback.
- (attributive use, hyphenated)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical/cultural studies of fashion.
Everyday
Used humorously or to describe a retro look.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hot pants”
- Using it to describe any type of shorts (must be very short and tight).
- Using the idiom in formal contexts.
- Treating it as a singular noun (it is plural: 'these hot pants are...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun (like 'trousers' or 'scissors'). We say 'These hot pants are...' not 'This hot pants is...'.
While historically associated with women's fashion, very short, tight shorts on men are sometimes referred to as hot pants, especially in a retro or performance context.
It is informal and can be seen as objectifying or humorous depending on context. It's not a polite term for a garment; 'short shorts' is more neutral.
All hot pants are shorts, but not all shorts are hot pants. 'Hot pants' specifically denotes an extremely short, tight-fitting style, often made from a specific material like velvet or satin, associated with a 1970s aesthetic.
A type of very short, tight-fitting shorts.
Hot pants is usually informal, colloquial, humorous, potentially dated. in register.
Hot pants: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɒt ˈpænts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɑːt ˈpænts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “have/get hot pants for someone/something (to be strongly attracted to/keen on)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone feeling so HOT in restrictive PANTS that they cut them very short.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS HEAT / FASHION IS A CYCLICAL JOURNEY.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'to have hot pants for something' primarily mean?