Have you heard the saying “too big for your britches?” This comical idiom of days past is one of my favorites. Find out what it means and where it came from here!

Here on 365 Days of Literacy for Kids, your kids will be “dressed” with IDIOMS during the month of September.

IDIOMS are phrases that reveal “secrets” from the past. IDIOMS come from many sources, many languages, many authors, many cultures.  The “hidden” meanings in IDIOMS are great fun for kids, but also teach important, interesting and intriguing lessons in how language has developed and evolved over time.

Each SEPTEMBER IDIOM on 365 Days of Literacy for Kids will address something to do with clothing… such as teaching kids the meaning of the very interesting too big for your britches idiom.

First, I may have to explain to a new generation what exactly britches are!

Britches are pants.  The word britches derives from the word breech or breeches (16th century), once meaning a garment covering the legs to the knees. The garment covering the entire legs were called trousers.

OK.  Now that that’s settled…

– The idiom too big for your britches means bossy, conceited, unreachable or that someone has an exaggerated sense of his/her own importance.

– Origin:  Too big for your britches is a term of ridicule, used as far back as the 16th century.  It is indicative of people who feel that other people, things and projects are below them… as in feeling so important, prideful and swelled-up that their britches/clothing may well burst off their bodies.

The idiom too big for your britches is a good way (even a humorous way) to teach kids the concept of conceit.  We’ve all known someone who fits the bill too big for his/her britches, and your kids and grandkids will bump into one of these people, too, in real life and in literature.

– The idiom puts a funny figurative spin on self-important, haughty behavior.  The image alone of someone’s britches/clothing bursting off may be enough to diffuse the grand self-importance.

Dress your kids for back-to-school success with knowledge and attention to this fun and important idiom… in both themselves and in others!

Take a few minutes each day in SEPTEMBER to teach the secrets of IDIOMS to your kids & grandkids.  Understanding IDIOMS is a wonderful way to enrich reading and language development.

And I’m not just talking through my hat!