die Hosen voll haben
to be scared stiff; to be terrified
Origin
Crudely figurative: the expression alludes to the fact that great fear affects the bowels and can literally cause them to empty. A similar phrasing is already found in the 16th century in Hans Sachs.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Comparison of equality with 'so … wie' (as … as)Vergleich mit so … wie
- Temporal clause with 'seit(dem)' (since a starting point)Temporalsatz mit 'seit(dem)'
- Genitive preposition 'während' (during)Genitivpräposition 'während'
- Conjunctional adverbs: trotzdem, deshalb, deswegen (inversion)Konjunktionaladverbien: trotzdem, deshalb, deswegen (Inversion)
Examples
Vor der hatte er die Hosen .
Before the exam he was absolutely scared stiff.