trouser

Everyday

1. (used before a noun) Having to do with trousers: «trouser leg», «trouser pocket», «trouser press». tree →
2. (informal, UK) To take and keep money, often in a sly or unfair way: «he trousered the cash». tree →

In the lessons

The word is usually seen as «trousers» (a piece of clothing covering each leg separately — in the US, «pants»). «Trouser» alone appears before other nouns. In British newspapers «to trouser» money means to pocket it, sometimes dishonestly. Phrases: «trouser leg», «trouser pocket», «trouser press», «trousered the money».

Examples

• I put the coins in my trouser pocket. tree →
• His trouser leg got caught in the bike chain. tree →
• Roll up your trouser legs before you paddle. tree →
• Dad uses a trouser press to keep his work trousers smart. tree →
• (informal, UK) The salesman trousered a big bonus. tree →
• (informal) He trousered the prize money and left. tree →

Note

As clothing the word is plural: «trousers», «a pair of trousers» (one piece of clothing). Say «my trousers are», not «my trouser is». Trap: in the UK «pants» means underwear, but in the US, Canada and often Australia «pants» means trousers.