Help me in English language!

[Barbara]

I am very grateful that an explanation for pants and trousers is also included- that's another one.
Here everything like a cowboy hat, a Homburg, a trilby and a bowler would also be hats- but baseball caps would never. So the English hat invades the territory of the German cap- but basically it's the same difference

Killearn Karen: what you are talking about- would it be that classical thing made of Harris Tweed that has a short hard visor which is mainly hidden by the rest of the cap?

[Killearn Kitties]

Killearn Karen: what you are talking about- would it be that classical thing made of Harris Tweed that has a short hard visor which is mainly hidden by the rest of the cap?

No Barbara, that is a bunnet!

[Kirsten]

Interesting topic... I always wondered about that pants/trousers thing myself!

Kirsten

[Killearn Kitties]

Well, how interesting. I have always thought that Americans referred to all trousers as pants. I just thought that that was what they called them.

[kokopup]

When I talked about dressing up I always refered to my trousers as "dress slacks". With a man's suit the trousers were called slacks, never pants. Since retiring I have a closet full of "dress Slacks" that I never wear except for the occasional funeral. I don't do weddings. The closest I come to dressing up now is a pair of Dockers. I think Dockers are almost trousers but probably just pants. I am sure there are also many regional differences here in the US that I'm not aware of.

[Killearn Kitties]

The closet I come to dressing up now is a pair of Dockers. I think Dockers are almost trousers but probably just pants. I am sure there are also many regional differences here in the US that I'm not aware of.

Do you have a photo so that we can decide for ourselves?

[Barbara]

How would you define slacks?

[Moesha]

Dockers are like khaki pants. I don't use the word trousers or really even slacks. "Pants" is a universal word for me that covers all long things on one's legs, male or female, that aren't made out of denim...those are jeans. It could be a regional thing but is probably more generational.

[Barbara]

Well, how interesting. I have always thought that Americans referred to all trousers as pants. I just thought that that was what they called them.

How would it be in British English? Would a woman's business suit have pants or trousers? (If it doesn't have a skirt )

[Killearn Kitties]

How would it be in British English? Would a woman's business suit have pants or trousers? (If it doesn't have a skirt )

We don't call trousers pants. Ever. Men or women's. Pants to us are knickers.
Don't ever tell any of your colleagues in London that you are wearing pants with your suit. They will be concerned that you don't wear them the rest of the time.

[Moesha]

Knickers are pants that come to your knees and are sort of fitted with a band at the bottom causing the fabric to balloon out just a bit.

[Edwina's Secretary]

No Barbara, that is a bunnet!

No, no! It's a newsboy cap!

And only men wear trousers. Women wear pants or slacks!

[Daisy and Delilah]

WOW!!! That is a loaded, but fun, question to say the least. The English language has a million different names for the same thing.

I always call something a cap like a baseball cap or a ball cap. There is a visor attached to all of them.
A hat is anything else. Pillbox hat, cowboy hat, top hat, etc. This is just the way I see it and I'm sure there are many other ways to see it.

[Kirsten]

And only men wear trousers. Women wear pants or slacks!

Wow, really? Another interesting thing I have learned today!

Thanks!

Kirsten

[Moesha]

I'm afraid of what will happen if/when RICHARD finds this thread!