wear the trousers

wear the trousers (third-person singular simple present wears the trousers, present participle wearing the trousers, simple past wore the trousers, past participle worn the trousers)

1. (British, idiomatic) (typically of a woman) To be the dominant partner in a relationship.

   Synonyms: rule the roost, wear the breeches, (US) wear the pants

   • 1987, Martin L. Gore, “Never Let Me Down Again”, in Music for the Masses, performed by Depeche Mode:

     As long as I remember who's wearing the trousers / I hope he never lets me down again

   • 1988, John Rowan, Windy Dryden, Innovative Therapy in Britain, page 246:

     His mother wore the trousers, and father, a gentle man who worked in local government, was not ambitious enough for her.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wear,‎ trouser.

• the grey mare is the better horse