What is the origin of the idiom, too big for your britches?

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Phrases, T

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	What is the origin of the idiom, too big for your britches? By Anonymous Asked Sep 28 2008 9:42AM	10 Pts Rate Question

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by nighthawk on Sep 8, 2009 at 3:02 am Permalink

Here are several examples of the origin of this idiom:

1835 D. CROCKETT Tour to North 152 "When a man gets too big for his breeches, I say Good-bye."

1879 [see BOOT n.3 1c]. 1893 H. MAXWELL Life of W. H. Smith I. ii. 57 Sometimes a young man, 'too big for his boots', would..sniff at being put in charge of a railway bookstall.

1905 H. G. WELLS Kipps III. ii. S1 He's getting too big for 'is britches. 1929 W. FAULKNER Sound & Fury 270 You're getting a little too big for your pants." SS

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