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britches

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too big for one's britches

Rur. too haughty for one's status or age. Bill's getting a little too big for his britches, and somebody's going to straighten him out. You're too big for your britches, young man! You had better be more respectful.

See also: big, britches

wear the britches (in the family)

 and wear the pants (in the family)

Rur. to be in charge in the family. Jane bosses her husband around something scandalous. It's clear that she wears the britches in the family. I don't intend to let my wife wear the pants in the family. Mary's a strong-minded woman, but her husband still wears the britches.

See also: britches, wear

too big for your boots

  (British, American & Australian informal) also too big for your britches (American informal)

someone who is too big for their boots behaves as if they are more important or more clever than they really are Since he was made team captain, he's been ordering us all around and generally getting much too big for his boots.

See also: big, boot

too big for one's britches

Also, too big for one's boots. Conceited, self-important, as in Ever since he won that tournament he's gotten too big for his britches, or There's no talking to Jill anymore-she's just too big for her boots. This metaphoric idiom alludes to becoming so "swollen" with conceit that one's pants or boots no longer fit. [Late 1800s]

See also: big, britches

too big for (one's) britches

Overconfident; cocky.

See also: big, britches