wearing the pants

1. Refers to the person in charge. 2. The phrase stems from the time of patriarchy when men went out and worked to provide for their families while women tended the home. Men wore pants while women were more likely to wear dresses. The men of that time were seen as the leaders of their families. 3. An insult to one memember of a relationship, usually the male, who has lost or willingly given the majority of control of the relationship to the other.