English Idiom – Ants in your pants.
Unable to sit still because you’re excited, impatient or nervous. The idiom describes fidgety, restless energy.
This is an easy idiom to remember! Just imagine how hard it would be to sit still with hundreds of ants in your pants… It’s playful and informal – often said to excited children.
Interestingly, this is one idiom where British speakers usually say pants, not trousers – because it rhymes! (See also caught with your pants down.)
Usage:
- Someone is restless and can’t sit still.
- A person is impatient and doesn’t want to sit down.
- A young child is overexcited about going somewhere.
- A nervous person keeps shifting around in their chair.
Example:
- “Please calm down! Have you got ants in your pants? Your friends will be here soon.”
In the News
Spotted in the newsHow to Quash Those Pesky Ants in Your Pants and Finally Just Relaxwellandgood.comWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Being unable to sit still because you are excited, impatient or nervous.
No. It is playful and informal, and often said to excited children.
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