wear the trousers

transitive verb wore, worn, wearing

1. 1. to have on the body or carry on the person (clothing, jewelry, a weapon, etc.)
   2. to hold the position or rank symbolized by: to wear the heavyweight crown
   3. to dress in (a specified kind of attire) so as to be in style: what college students are wearing this fall
2. to have or show in one's expression or appearance: to wear a smile, wearing an air of expectancy
3. to be fitted with or have on the person habitually: to wear dentures
4. to have or bear as a characteristic or attribute: to wear a beard, to wear one's hair long
5. to fly or show (its flag): said of a ship
6. to impair, consume, or diminish as by constant use, handling, or friction: often with away
7. to bring by use to a specified state: to wear a coat to rags
8. to make, cause, or produce by the friction of rubbing, scraping, flowing, etc.: to wear a hole in the sole of one's shoe
9. to tire or exhaust (a person)
10. to pass (time) slowly or tediously: often with away or out

intransitive verb

1. to become impaired, consumed, or diminished by constant use, friction, etc.: shoes that have begun to wear
2. to hold up in use as specified; bear continued use or handling; last: a suit that wears well
3. to become in time; grow gradually: courage that is wearing thin
4. to pass away gradually: often with away or on: said of time [the year wore on]
5. to have an irritating or exhausting effect (on): noise wearing on our nerves

noun

1. the act of wearing or the state of being worn
2. things, esp. clothes, worn, or for wearing, on the body [children's wear]: often in combination [sportswear, footwear]
3. the fashion or proper style of dress or the like
4. 1. the gradual impairment, loss, or diminution from use, friction, etc.
   2. the amount of such loss
5. the ability to resist impairment or loss from use, friction, etc.: a lot of wear left in the tire