There has been a discussion in the newspaper about where the phrase, "She needs to put on her big girl panties," meaning she needs to grow up, comes from. Some have thought it was Oprah Winfrey, but others think it has been around longer than that. Does anyone know?
For this meaning, Straight Dope seems to say that it was first found (by one of them so who knows how accurate it is) in 2003 by Chris Lindley, a landscape designer. Here's the quote:
quote:
I am forever dealing with impatient, frustrated people like myself who want to make it perfect, and here's how respond: I repeat two little phrases I used (and still use) with my daughter: "Don't say 'I can't,' say 'I haven't done it yet,' and 'Just put your big girl panties on and deal with it.'
