wear the trousers

wear the trousers or wear the pants  {v. phr.},  {informal}
To have a man's authority; be the boss of a family or household.
Mr. Wilson is henpecked by his wife; she wears the trousers in that family.
Mrs. Jones talks a lot but Mr. Jones wears the pants in their house.
Compare: RULE THE ROOST.
Categories: informal verb