English idiom: “Too big for their britches”

“When I met Donald Trump I soon realized that he is too big for his britches.”

This refers to someone who is conceited, who has too high of an opinion of himself. An American phrase which originated from an English phrase too big for his breeches (Breeches/britches is another word used for pants). It is first found in print in An Account of Col. Crockett’s Tour to the North and Down East, written by Davy Crockett. Davy Crockett is best known as an American folk hero and was actually a US Politician, but thanks to television he is more famously known as the ‘King of the wild frontier’.

As you learn more idioms you may notice that many American sayings can be traced back to English origin. The American westward expansion brought on a bigger deviation in language from their more correct and proper brethren across the pond. 

While you may not hear this phrase in use everyday, give it a try! You might find that some of your friends say that you remind them of their grandparents.