too big for one's britches

too big for one's britches

English

Alternative forms

• too big for one's breeches

Etymology

US origin, 19th c.[1]

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

too big for one's britches (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) Disturbingly confident, unacceptably cocky.

   Synonym: too big for one's boots

   • 1989, Edwin M. Reingold, "Hard Times for Teflon Tom," Time, 22 May:

     A diffident, dedicated man, Bradley seemed the personification of rectitude. He never got too big for his britches.

2. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: Too large to fit into one's pants.

References

1. “Too big for your breeches” in Gary Martin, The Phrase Finder, 1997–.