Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to be terrified (cf. pee (in) one’s pants under pee v.).

[1772		Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 288: Though several folks, when seiz’d with twitches / Pray hard, but first they piss their breeches].
1934		H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 108: Carl is pissing in his pants. It’s one thing to write letters to a woman you don’t know, it’s another thing entirely to call on her and make love to her.
1943		I. Wolfert Tucker’s People (1944) 67: If it’s a small thing, you’re all right. But if it’s a big thing, you piss in your pants.
1962		(con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 277: He confided his fear to Solly. ‘I’m pissing my pants.’.
1970		E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 500: Shit, he’s about to piss his pants.
1974		(con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 238: You ever see such a punk? Shittin his blues. Pissin his pants. You’re yellow as baby shit.
1974		G.V. Higgins Cogan’s Trade (1975) 153: He was probably pissing his pants when he called me.
1980		A. Dangor ‘Waiting for Leila’ in Mutloatse Forced Landing 162: Orraaight, don’t piss in your broeks!
1989		C. Hiaasen Skin Tight 146: You would’ve pissed your pants if you’d been there.
1991		L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 162: I pull my gat outta my pocket – big ole .38 – and stick it in his face [...] Dude almost pissed his pants.
2004		J. Ellroy ‘Hot-Prowl Rape-O’ in Destination: Morgue! (2004) 314: He pissed his pants and poured out postnasal drip.
2012		C. Stella Rough Riders 145: Don’t piss your pants so fast, sonny [...] That’s a worst case scenario.
2015		S. King Finders Keepers (2016) 292: He hopes he won’t piss in his pants.
2020		S.A. Crosby Blacktop Wasteland 76: ‘I think at the first sign of trouble you might just piss your pants’.

2. (US) to be very excited, in a state of suspense.

1961		(con. early 1950s) J. Peacock Valhalla 440: If you don’t quit jumping around you’re like to piss your pants.
1977		P. Hamill Flesh and Blood (1978) 28: Wuddya gettin’ excited for, pretty boy? You gonna piss your pants, you get any more excited.
1981		Graziano & Corsel Somebody Down Here Likes Me, Too 96: They all pissin in their pants.
1991		(con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 123: Every goddamned yokel in the car’s pissing his pants wondering what’s going on.

3. to be irritable or angry.

1954		J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 31: Why do you look as though you pissed your pants? We both got through.
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 32: He’s going to piss in his pants when he finds the ’ho has cleaned him out.

4. to laugh hysterically.

1964		H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn 88: Her big lardass was wigglin and we were pissin in our pants.
1979		E. Torres After Hours 73: I was pissin’ in my pants.
2006		D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 114: One whole minute later Darren Moran was still pissing his pants.

5. to make a fool of oneself.

1978

S. King Stand (1990) 60: It’s no fun to watch a friend who’s, like, pissed his pants and doesn’t even know it.

6. to be very keen.

1991

(con. 1920s) O.D. Brooks Legs 88: I could tell by Bert’s kisser and the way he looked at the shooters on the front table that he was pissing in his pants to get in it.