# panties/ underwear? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 18, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658 "2000-09-18T21:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/1 "2000-09-18T21:31:58Z")
Recently I’ve ran into some women who seem repulsed by the term ‘panties’ prefering ‘underwear’ while others seem to prefer it, thinking it sexy. Guy point of view - sexy! Girls, what’s the story? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/2 "2000-09-18T21:37:30Z")
Bleah. The only acceptable use of the word “panties” is when telling someone else not to get theirs in a wad. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/3 "2000-09-18T21:47:49Z")
I don’t like that word either. Not sure why, though. I do like the Brit version “Don’t get your knickers in a twist.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/4 "2000-09-18T22:05:40Z")
I say both words. I’ve never heard of women getting upset about the word, “panties”…I think panties sounds more feminine, personally… I have Winnie the Pooh panties, Garfield panties, Looney Toons panties and Scooby Doo panties… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/5 "2000-09-18T22:07:46Z")
It doesn’t matter to me, as long as there’s any chance of the panties/knickers/undies being removed 😃 ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/6 "2000-09-18T22:22:44Z")
This topic, such as it is, is best adressed in IMHO. I’ll move the thread there. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/7 "2000-09-18T22:48:08Z")
I’d like to suggest (cautiously) that this may be another example of the linguistic divide that unites our two countries. Panties (England / US) - ‘bottom layer’ for women Pants (England) - ‘bottom layer’ for men Pants (US) - Smart jeans Trousers (England) - Smart jeans Knickers (England) - worn over panties but under skirt I hope that gets to the bottom of it… ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/8 "2000-09-18T23:17:02Z")
Hmmm … my British informants seem to be divided on the meaning of “pants.” The ones from Bath say pants are always underwear; the one from Manchester says they’re trousers. Don’t know if he’s just been watching too much American TV or if it’s a regional thing. They all seem to agree that “knickers” are underpants, though. As for the OP … well, there was a thread on this ages ago, and a surprising number of women posted that they _were_ bothered by the word “panties.” I don’t understand it myself – as far as I’m concerned, that’s just what they’re called. “Underwear” seems insufficiently specific. Where’s everybody from, BTW? I live in NC but grew up in the DC area. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/9 "2000-09-18T23:58:04Z")
Well, it’s not exactly that it bothers me, but I haven’t worn panties since back when I wore jammies. (I’m also quite sure many grown women will defend their right to wear panties and jammies until they are grannies and beyond.) ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/10 "2000-09-19T00:03:20Z")
I do indeed wear panties and jammies; I also wear undies or, when I’m feeling nostalgic for my Navy days, skivvies. I’m not too particular on the terminology. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/11 "2000-09-19T00:07:51Z")
I prefer the term underwear myself. Panties seems like a little girl term. Like Cher3, I only use it when I tell someone not to get theirs in a knot. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/12 "2000-09-19T01:40:00Z")
I don’t recall exactly how it started, but I usually say (on the occasions when the subject arises) my “dainties” or “delicates.” I like innuendo… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/13 "2000-09-19T02:45:32Z")
As always, it sounds better when the Brits say it: “Don’t get your knickers in a twist” Heard this on an epsisode of “The Good Neighbors” (AKA “The Good Life”) ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/14 "2000-09-19T03:39:10Z")
“I could hide out under there… I just made you say ‘underwear’!” Sorry, couldn’t resist. Anyway. I’m not repulsed by the term ‘panties’… although I should admit I’m more likely to call someone one rather than say I wear one, though. ---
**Author:** ![darkcool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@darkcool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darkcool)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/15 "2000-09-19T03:49:59Z")
I, too, know some women who don’t like the term. This perplexes me for if women don’t like it why do mnfctrs market their product that way? Personally I find It feminine and sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/16 "2000-09-19T04:35:43Z")
Ewww. I hate the word “panties.” Even worse is “panty” in the singular. I think you only find this in Victoria’s Secret advertising: “Introducing the new bun-hugger panty!” I say “underpants.” ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/17 "2000-09-19T05:19:45Z")
Yeah, “panties” is kind of a weird word. I’ve always referred to them as “underwear.” Flashback to MST3k: Professor Bobo defends Mike for crimes against humanity. “We’re going to be hearing the word ‘panties’ a lot in this trial, so lets just get those giggles out now. Panties panties panties panties panties. \ Panties panties panties panties panties…” 🙂 (Note: typing “panties” that many times in a row makes it seem even stranger.) ---
**Author:** ![NothingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b77776/32.png) [@NothingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NothingMan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/18 "2000-09-19T05:30:55Z")
**Audrey** , BNL kicks ass !! Who could possibly find fault with the word “panties” ? Its like it says in the OP, most men find the term impossibly sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/19 "2000-09-19T05:34:41Z")
Eh, “panties” is fine with me, although it makes me think of kid’s underwear (Mom always told me to wear “clean panties” when I was a kid…so, the term has that stigma). However, I much prefer “thong.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658/20 "2000-09-19T05:36:19Z")
Well, I usually say “panties”. Sometimes “underwear” too. But “panties”, mostly. I also say “nighties”. I am wearing some nighties right now, as a matter of fact. And I’m also wearing panties. So there! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panties-underwear/33658.md?page=2)