big-boy pants

big-boy pants

slang The ability to behave as a mature adult man should. The phrase is typically used pejoratively to imply that one is not behaving in such a way. Come on, Larry, you need to put on your big-boy pants and own up to your lies. I know you're not a morning person, but put on your big-boy pants and go to work.
See also: pant
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • big-girl pants
  • do-gooder
  • femme
  • cherchez la femme
  • blouse
  • a big girl's blouse
  • big girl's blouse
  • (as) gay as pink ink
  • as gay as pink ink
  • gay as pink ink
References in periodicals archive
"I'm a big boy, I have my big-boy pants on," McLaurin said.
Canada simply needs to put on its big-boy pants and start acting like the important nation she has become.
But if you hope to consistently put yourself inside bow range of mature whitetail bucks, you'd better have your big-boy pants cinched up tight.
"They have to put on their big-boy pants and big-girl pants," Somerhalder said, while Dobrev added, "The problem is they keep taking their pants off and that keeps getting in the way of things."
WORKERS on a North Sea oil rig were told to put on their "big-boy pants" or quit if they were afraid of going on a helicopter - just days before four people died in a crash.
A pilot from CHC Helicopter said: "At some point we have to put our big-boy pants on.
OFFSHORE workers who raised concerns about helicopter safety were told to put on their "big-boy pants" or quit - just days before the Shetland crash.
I showered, shaved, put on a pair of big-boy pants, and hit the town like it had never been hit before.
"Put your big-boy pants on," Bryant told Gasol, according to (http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8704495/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-calls-pau-gasol-loss) ESPN Los Angeles .
"He's had to put his big-boy pants on and get physical and do his best."