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Underwear

(33 Posts)
watermeadow Sun 28-Jun-26 20:59:06

The thread on what we’re wearing mentions underwear a few times. Are people adopting the ambivalent American term? Do you mean pants?
Underwear in English includes bra, knickers, petticoats, chemises. For men it would be pants and vests.
Why are American euphemisms usually vague, like bathroom for loo and nothing to do with baths? Their puppies also go potty or go to the bathroom, which means wee or poo.
When I was a child we weren’t allowed to say toilet because it was American, so we’ve had creeping Americanisms for a long time.

M0nica Mon 29-Jun-26 16:20:23

Underwear is anything you wear under your clothes that is not meant to be seen. It includes bras, pants, vests, corsets, socks, tights etc etc.

JamesandJon33 Mon 29-Jun-26 17:14:28

I dislike the word ‘panties ‘ also. Much in line with hubby’
I wear knickers .

dotpocka Mon 29-Jun-26 19:36:15

panties coy about wee and poo and knicker were knee length
trousers pants etc knickerbockers
noun plural

The name for a style of short breeches; smallclothes; called also knickers.

noun

Men's or boys' baggy knee trousers, of a type particularly popular in the early 20th century. Trousers ending above the knee.

Farmor15 Tue 30-Jun-26 11:51:38

Following dotpocka's post mentioning " smallclothes, my mother used to refer to her "smalls", meaning her knickers or pants.

butterandjam Tue 30-Jun-26 12:16:46

Bellanonna

Quoting the OP -

“Their puppies also go potty or go to the bathroom, which means wee or poo.”

I think Americans use “poop” for dogs.

About 50 years ago, an American friend was visiting with her articulate toddler age 2 to 3 who informed us all " I have done a BM in my pants. Please don't hit me Mommy".

That's what happens in America when you don't go potty.

butterandjam Tue 30-Jun-26 12:21:08

Romola

Going back to underwear, the word brassière originally meant a little vest in French. But the French call it a "soutiengorge" (support the throat) while
the Germans, in their usual direct way, call it a Büstenhalter or BH. Italian and Spanish have different words meaning 'hold the chest".
Funny how no-one wants to say breast.

Shirley every one knows what B stands for in "B-cup" {hmm]

Oreo Tue 30-Jun-26 12:32:52

NittWitt

Oreo do you get men's boxers or ones for women?
I'm due some new pants and I'm fed up of nasty little briefs but I don't think I want granny pants either.

Womens boxers,
Type that into Amazon and see the choices that come up.I like the cotton jersey ones in dark colours.They fit well and don’t show under trousers and ideal for under dresses too.
I am a 14-16 so go for L and the sizes go to 3XL
Wish I’d discovered them years ago.Wash well, stay very soft and don’t shrink either.