English edit

Noun edit

striped-pants (plural striped-pants)

  1. (slang) A diplomat or civil servant.
    • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 12:
      ‘Ring Shallow Throat,’ Craw ordered, now quite furious. ‘Ring every damned striped-pants in the Colony!’