pants pocket
die Hosentasche, die Hosentaschen
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pants pocket
A small pocket sewn into a pair of pants, where you can keep objects such as keys, money, or a mobile phone.
Er zog sein Handy aus der Hosentasche, um auf die Uhr zu sehen.
He pulled his phone out of his pants pocket to check the time.
to have someone/something in your pocket
An idiom meaning that you have full control over someone or something, have complete command of a situation, or are far superior to someone.
Nach dem dritten Tor hatte die Heimmannschaft den Gegner quasi in der Hosentasche.
After the third goal, the home team basically had their opponent in their pocket.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Hosentaschen |
| genitive | der Hosentasche |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Hosentasche | die Hosentaschen |
| accusative | die Hosentasche | die Hosentaschen |
| dative | der Hosentasche | den Hosentaschen |
| genitive | der Hosentasche | der Hosentaschen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The word is simply made up of 'die Hose' (pants) and 'die Tasche' (pocket/bag). The 'n' in the middle is a linking n that connects the two words. So it is literally a pocket in a pair of pants.
Meine Jacke hat keine Taschen, also muss alles in die Hosentasche.
My jacket has no pockets, so everything has to go in my pants pocket.
Common verbs used with 'Hosentasche' (pants pocket) are 'stecken' (to put/stick), 'haben' (to have), 'suchen' (to search), and 'ziehen' (to pull). The prepositions 'in' (with the accusative for direction) and 'aus' (with the dative) are central here.
Er steckte die Hände tief in die Hosentaschen.
He stuck his hands deep into his pants pockets.
The idiom 'jemanden in der Hosentasche haben' means that you are far superior to a person or have full control over them. It is often used in the context of competitions or conflicts.
Die erfahrene Anwältin hatte den Zeugen nach wenigen Fragen in der Hosentasche.
After just a few questions, the experienced lawyer had the witness in her pocket.
bag / pocket
Tasche and Hosentasche can both refer to a small compartment in clothing. Hosentasche is more specific because the compartment is in a pair of pants, while Tasche can also refer to one in a jacket or coat. A compartment in a pair of pants is therefore usually called a Hosentasche.
In der rechten Hosentasche steckt mein Schlüssel.
My key is in my right pants pocket.
In der Jacke ist eine Tasche für mein Handy.
There is a pocket in the jacket for my phone.
