big boy pants
Grown-up attitude metaphor
Big boy pants are the underwear a toddler wears after graduating from diapers—a milestone of maturity.
The phrase extends to adults as a call to act responsibly or handle difficult situations: Time to put on your big boy pants and have that conversation.
The variant big girl pants applies the same idea to women.
Often used mockingly or as gentle encouragement.
Lifelong occupational pursuit
- mortgageSecured home loan
- parenthoodState of having children
- salaryFixed periodic employment payment
- promotionRank increase or publicity
budgeting · taxes · homeownership · savings · retirement · insurance · investing · pension
Boldness before danger
- gutsEntrails or boldness
- nerveSignal-carrying body fiber
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
daring · fortitude · mettle · pluck · spunk · backbone · stepping up · facing fears
Obligation for one's actions
- dutyRequired moral task
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- trustworthinessQuality of being reliable
discipline · ownership · commitment · conscientiousness · stewardship · follow-through · dependability · answerability
Depending on oneself alone
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- agencyPower to act
self-determination · freedom · individuality · leaving the nest · solo · self-supporting · self-directed · choice
Ability to restrain impulses
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- composureEmotional self-control
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
restraint · level-headedness · sensibility · equanimity · temperance · emotional regulation · patience · perspective
career
Lifelong occupational pursuit
- mortgageSecured home loan
- parenthoodState of having children
- salaryFixed periodic employment payment
promotion · budgeting · taxes · homeownership · savings · retirement · insurance · investing · pension · employment
bravery
Boldness before danger
fearlessness · daring · fortitude · mettle · pluck · spunk · backbone · stepping up · facing fears · confrontation
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- dutyRequired moral task
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
trustworthiness · discipline · ownership · commitment · conscientiousness · stewardship · follow-through · dependability · answerability · charge
self-reliance
Depending on oneself alone
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
agency · self-determination · freedom · individuality · leaving the nest · solo · self-supporting · self-directed · choice · on your own
self-control
Ability to restrain impulses
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- composureEmotional self-control
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
discernment · restraint · level-headedness · sensibility · equanimity · temperance · emotional regulation · patience · perspective · insight
big boy pantsdiapers
Infant waste garments
training wheels · baby steps · hand-holding · coddling · security blanket
big boy pantscowardice
Absence of bravery
running scared · chicken out · cold feet · wimping out · fragility
big boy pantstemper tantrum
Explosive emotional outburst
meltdown · waterworks · whining · pouting · thin skin
bigger, biggest, boys, boyish, boyhood, pants, pant, panted, panting