Green’s Dictionary of Slang

by meton., a term of imprisonment.

1932

S. Wood Shades of the Prison House n.p.: They had prophesied that I should get knickers and stockings, by which they meant a lagging [DU].

one who steals from washing lines; by ext. a small-time petty criminal.

1977

D. Powis Signs of Crime 172: Bandit A term sometimes used ironically in conjunction with other words, e.g., [...] ‘knickers bandit’ – clothes line thief.

(UK prison) to get penal servitude.

1941

V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 255: Getting the knickers. Penal servitude, so called because convicts once wore knickerbocker suits.

to act fast; to panic,to behave hysterically.

1982		Aus. Women’s Wkly 19 May25: A child live wire penning his autobiography, with the intriguing title ‘My Knickers were on Fire’.
1996		H. Norman Key to Susanna 97: You ran out of there as if your knickers were on fire’.
2002		S. Cooper ‘First Impressions’ on Casualty FanFic 🌐 Some lunatic nurse dashing through the department as though her knickers were on fire!
2021		E. Darry Quiet Village [ebook] Emily cut out of the meeting like her knickers were on fire.

see bore the pants off under pants n.

a phr. used to indicate the speaker’s inability to believe an extremely unlikely story.

1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 242/2: C.20.
1986–7		Maledicta IX 195: This article and series devoted to sexual slang would be incomplete without some notice of catch phrases, both British and American: […] you come home with your drawers torn and expect me to believe you found the money.

see get into someone’s pants under pants n.

1. to become excessively agitated over a problem or situation, to worry to extremes; thus don’t get your knickers in a twist, stop getting so worried; knicker-twisting, agonizingly worrying; thus used with other garments (e.g. cit. 1995) (cf. get one’s tits in a twist under tit n.² ).

1954		Chartered Mechanical Engineer 9 15/2: British management are already reluctant enough not to take too many risks without Mr Hutchins ‘daring’ them to DIY-QC: at least if they get their 'Knickers in a twist' the exercise will not break them.
1969		N. Smithe Bible 2.0 166: [L]ets be fair here. Maybe Jebot does have his panties in a bunch. Maybe he does have sand in his vagina.
1969		Pigeon Racing News 25 6: Wasn’t trying to steal your glory. mates, just got me knickers in a twist after the New Year celebrations.
1974–5		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 122: Don’t get your knickers in a twist darling.
1977		L. Pearson Out of Work 140: ‘Now ladies, don’t get your panties in a bunch when you see the ambulance come’.
1978		F. Norman Dead Butler Caper 65: ’I’ve come over all of a flutter.’ ‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist,’ I said.
1975		J. McClure Snake 35: Ach, come on Kip – what’s got your Tampax in a twist?
1983		A. Payne ‘Senior Citizen Caine’ in Minder [TV script] 54: Don’t get your knickers in a twist.
1985		J. Sherwood Botanist at Bay 38: Now don’t get your underwear in a twist, princess.
1995		J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 247: Don’t get your turban in a twist, pal.
1996		J. Cameron It Was An Accident 232: Always the same, never expected any rubbish and never got it. No need to get your knickers twisted.
1999		Indep. Rev. 24 Aug. 2: Poor John does get his knickers in a twist!
1999		Bug (Aus.) 25 Aug. 🌐 If you’re wondering why I’m swearing so much at the good referee, I’m hoping he’ll get his knickers in a knot and give me the big ten.
2000		Guardian Weekend 26 Feb. 3: Bill Clinton, who got his frillies in a real twist recently.
2001		J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 97: We’re fine, so what the fuck? You got your panties up your crack over nothing!
2001		‘Randy Everhard’ Tattoo of a Naked Lady 9: I didn’t want her making a scene. [Ibid.] ‘Don’t get yer panties in a bunch,’ I said.
2004		C. King Sunday Wife 76: Don’t get your panties in a wad.
2007		S. Maloney Sucked In 94: No point in getting our underwear in an uproar. Like the man said, it’s still provisional.
2011		K. Horsley ‘Jungle Boogie’ in Pulp Ink [ebook] Let’s not get our panties in a bunch about tomorrow.
2013		K. Sampson Killing Pool 25: Too fucking thingio, the tart — always getting her knickers in a twist over this, that and the other.
2013		T. Robinson Hard Bounce [ebook] ‘Before you get your panties all twisted, maybe he was talking bout the broad who gave you the clap’.
2016		Mail & Guardian Online (Johannesburg) 12 Feb. 🌐 Swaziland’s chief legal adviser has his knickers in a knot over a ‘threat’ posed to the patriarchal kingdom.
2018		C. Hammer Scrublands [ebook] ‘The editorial board have got their knickers in a knot’.
2018		G. Disher Kill Shot [ebook] [W]ould you have got your panties in a twist about a temporary correction? No. You’re too experienced for that.
2019		D. Winslow Border [ebook] ‘Don’t get your panties in a wad [...] No one’s asking you to get anyone killed’.
2021		S.A. Crosby Razorblade Tears 92: ‘No need to get ya panties in a bunch’.

2. to make a mistake, to be under a misapprehension, to ‘get the wrong end of the stick’.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 652/2: since late 1960s.

see under eat v.

to be quiet, to stop talking, esp. as imper.

1966

T. Keyes All Night Stand 19: ‘Shut your knickers,’ he said.

see wet one’s pants under pants n.

see keep your pants on! under pants n.