keep one’s pants on—(coll.) remain calm; keep one’s temper (also: keep one’s shirt on):
- Always remember to keep your pants on in times of stress.
Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase catch someone with his pants down—(sl.) catch a person off guard:
- Rachel’s telephone call hadn’t caught me with my pants down.
wear the pants—(also: wear the breeches) be the dominant partner in a marriage:
- Mrs. Harris wears the pants at home: Mr. Harris is far too quiet and easy-going to argue with her.