基本的にこの熟語は強調と言うニュアンスがあります。例えば: Ex. "We scared him."と"We scared the pants off him"と比べたら後ろの方が強いです。
1. Scare the pants off 〜(人)「(人)をおびえさせる;びびらせる」。 2. Charm the pants off 〜(人)「(人)を引きつける;うっとりさせる」。 3. Fancy the pants off 〜(人)「(人)をセクシーだと思う」。実はその熟語はそんなに使われてない。 4. Sue the pants off 〜(人)「多額のお金を求めて(人)を訴える」。
Makikoさん:Thanks for looking back at the archives! "Knock the socks off" is okay because 'knock' and 'sock' rhyme, but we don't say, "Knock the pants off".
Makiko: You might be right! Anyway, "knock the socks off" and "... the pants off" are pretty set expressions. I guess you can mix it with 'Knock the pants off' sometimes. Anyway, great of you to notice!