knickers
B1Informal, but standard in everyday British English.
Definition
Meaning
A piece of underwear worn by women and girls covering the area from the waist to the thighs.
In a broader British context, 'knickers' can refer to underpants in general, including men's, but this is less common. It also features in idioms expressing annoyance or disbelief. In American usage, 'knickers' refers specifically to old-fashioned knee-length trousers.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a plural noun (like 'trousers' or 'scissors'), treated as plural: 'These knickers are comfortable.' It can be used humorously or euphemistically. In American English, the 'trousers' sense is historical and rarely used outside specific contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Almost exclusively means women's underwear. US: Primarily refers to historical knee-breeches, not underwear. The UK underwear sense is widely understood in the US but considered a Britishism.
Connotations
UK: Neutral, everyday term for a common garment, though can be mildly humorous. US: For underwear, quaint or British; for trousers, historical/archaic.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK everyday speech. Low frequency in US English, except in the idiom 'get your knickers in a twist'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
wear + knickershave + POSSESSIVE + knickers in a twista pair of + knickersVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get your knickers in a twist (UK: become overly upset or confused)”
- “be wet your knickers (UK informal: be very scared)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used, except perhaps in the retail clothing sector.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common in UK conversation, especially among women.
Technical
Used in fashion and textile industries.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She was so furious she nearly knickered herself (very informal/humorous).
adjective
British English
- A knickers-twisting dilemma (humorous).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She bought a new pair of knickers.
- My knickers are in the drawer.
- Don't get your knickers in a twist, it's only a small mistake.
- He was embarrassed when his mum mentioned his clean knickers.
- The comedian's joke about airing one's dirty knickers in public had the audience in stitches.
- In Victorian times, men often wore knickers for golf.
- The phrase 'knickers to that!' is a brusque, old-fashioned British expression of dismissal or defiance.
- The editorial accused the politicians of getting their collective knickers in a twist over a minor procedural issue.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a NICKER (an old British coin) stuck in your underwear pocket – 'knickers' hold things close.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERWEAR IS A CONTAINER (for emotions, as in 'knickers in a twist').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'носки' (socks). The direct translation 'трусы' is correct, but note the UK/US difference: In the US, 'trousers' means брюки, but 'knickers' does not mean трусы.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a singular noun (*'a knicker').
- In US English, assuming it means modern women's underwear without contextual cues.
- Misspelling as 'nickers'.
Practice
Quiz
In modern American English, 'knickers' most likely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun (like 'trousers'). You say 'these knickers are...', not 'this knickers is...'. The singular form is not used.
In British English, it's possible but unusual to refer to men's underpants as 'knickers'; 'pants' or 'boxers' are more common. In the historical American sense, 'knickers' were trousers worn by men and boys.
'Knickers' is the standard British term. 'Panties' is the standard American term for the same garment. 'Knickers' in the UK can be more general, while 'panties' in the US often implies a more feminine or lightweight style.
It is informal and mildly vulgar to some, as it references underwear. It's best used in casual settings among friends, not in formal or professional contexts.
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