Question about the meaning of song lyrics from the musical Guys and Dolls: What does this mean?

SARAH:


I'll know when my love comes along.


I won't take a chance,


For, oh, he'll be just what I need


Not some fly by night Broadway romance


SKY:


And you'll know at a glance


By the two pair of pants!








Does anyone know what Sky is talking about here? "Two pair of pants"? It seems to be an insult, some 1950s slang? It drives me nuts every time I listen to it. I know that he is being condescending of her very conservative view of love, but I have no idea what that phrase means. Any ideas?

Question about the meaning of song lyrics from the musical Guys and Dolls: What does this mean?
Guys and Dolls was one of if not he first musical to use slang. So it is possible that it is a reference that is now lost. I think it may be because back then people didn't have much 'stuff' Anyone who owned two pairs of pants probably had a steady white collar income (not entirely common) I think Sky is trying to be condescending. He would not respect someone who worked at the same job everyday, preferring his fly-by-night life style.





I think that is what he is getting at. She will know love because he will be boring/respectable
Reply:I think it is more likely he is being a little condescending to her, saying love is not going to be a knight in shining armor but a meeting where you end up the next morning with two pairs of pants on the floor and then you are in love Report It

Reply:Funnily enough, I'm working on this song for a class too, haha. I'd agree with both interpretations above, and going a little along the with showing signs of income, when you think about it, two really isn't that many either, so he's obviously not wealthy or flashy, like Sky himself. But no, I don't think that phrase itself is one that was tossed around all the time in the 50s.
Reply:Because when a guy arrives with two pair of pants, one is for the closet, so it won't be a fly-by-night romance. He's staying a longer spell.

tvs