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cyanstar
What is the difference between drawers and underpants? There is no difference whatsoever?
May 30, 2023 7:31 AM
Answers · 3
1
I quite agree with both Eric and Stallone. In fact, to me, from a British perspective, both of these words sound very old-fashioned, but especially 'drawers'. As I remember, drawers generally referred to women's clothing and underpants to men's.
Personally, the only time I use the word 'drawers' is when referring to the place where I would put my 'pants', i.e. in my chest of drawers! (Same word different meaning).
I remember a very old joke (my grandparents generation...): people would sometimes say at the approach of winter "Ah! winter draws/ drawers on": with the double meaning of winter is arriving/ time to put on some warmer undergarments (different words same pronunciation).
I just did a search for that expression and found that it was used as the title of a song from 1935 by Gracie Fields, so presumably that is where the joke originated. You can find it on Y/T, if you have nothing else to do! ;). - I think the accent is probably from Yorkshire, England, although I might be wrong.
May 30, 2023
1
As Stallone rightly said, "drawers" is not common today, in fact I would say it is only really used in a joking way, because it is an older way of referring to underwear. I say underwear because "underpants" is also not the typical word. In North America I would say "underwear," or the specific name of the specific item of underwear you're speaking about, is most common. In Britain, they use "pants" to mean underwear.
May 30, 2023
1
Similar meaning but "drawers" is less common today.
May 30, 2023
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cyanstar
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English, Korean
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