---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had been trussed up like a chicken in…"
description: "\"“He had been trussed up like a chicken in his own breeches.”\" — Ted Mendelssohn"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/ted-mendelssohn-88653_breeches_he-had-been-trussed-up-like-a-chicken-in_76903.jpg"
---

#  He had been trussed up like a chicken in his own breeches.

![“He had been trussed up like a chicken in his own breeches.” quote by Ted Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/ted-mendelssohn-88653_breeches_he-had-been-trussed-up-like-a-chicken-in_76903.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/ted-mendelssohn-88653_breeches_he-had-been-trussed-up-like-a-chicken-in_76903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e60/ted-mendelssohn-88653_breeches_he-had-been-trussed-up-like-a-chicken-in_76903.jpg)

> ““He had been trussed up like a chicken in his own breeches.””

[Ted Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mendelssohn/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The subject feels trapped and embarrassed, constrained by his own attire, suggesting self-imposed limitations or social discomfort.

**In simple terms:** Self-imposed restriction

Key Takeaway

Freedom requires shedding limiting garments

Themes

humor embarrassment self-awareness social critique identity

Mood

ironic self-deprecating wry

Type

aphor anecdote

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- formal events
- tight-fitting clothing
- awkward social encounters

Key Concepts

personal agency social expectations

Practical Applications

- comedy writing
- social commentary

Questions to Reflect On

- How do our choices of dress reflect inner constraints?
- When does comfort become a form of self-censorship?

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[Breeches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breeches/) [Chicken Breeches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicken-breeches-992061/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Like Chicken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-chicken/) [Trussed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trussed-992063/) [Trussed Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trussed-like-992062/)

## Related quotes

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> [There's no taking trout with dry breeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/there-s-no-taking-trout-with-dry-breeches/)

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> [“What,” came a deep male voice, “is this?” Silence froze, her hand still outstretched, clutching a damp, dirty cloth. Oh, dear Lord. Slowly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/what-came-a-deep-male-voice-is-this-silence-froze-her-hand-still/)

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> [“Now, look you here, Sekundar," says I, but he came up straight like a little bantam and cut me off. "Sir Alexander. if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald-fraser/now-look-you-here-sekundar-says-i-but-he-came-up-straight-like-a/)

[George MacDonald Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald-fraser/)

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[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“I shouldn't think I'll have the slightest problem playing a man," she said. "I shall merely remember to rearrange my breeches in front at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/i-shouldn-t-think-i-ll-have-the-slightest-problem-playing-a-man-she/)

[Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/)

> [“What's wrong, de Zoet? You look like your breeches are beshatten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/what-s-wrong-de-zoet-you-look-like-your-breeches-are-beshatten/)

[David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/)

> [you can't fit the same religion to every man any mo' than you can the same pair of breeches. The big man takes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/you-can-t-fit-the-same-religion-to-every-man-any-mo-than-you-can-the/)

[Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/)

> [All womankind, from the highest to the lowest love jokes; the difficulty is to know how they choose to have them cut; and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/all-womankind-from-the-highest-to-the-lowest-love-jokes-the/)

[Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/)

> [“Beatrix,” Amelia said over her shoulder as they proceeded through the hallway. “Perhaps you should reconsider your attire. Poor Captain Phelan may find it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/beatrix-amelia-said-over-her-shoulder-as-they-proceeded-through-the/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [It is no matter what you teach them first, any more than what leg you shall put into your breeches first. You may stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-no-matter-what-you-teach-them-first-any-more-than-what-leg-you/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Observe that noses were made to wear spectacles; and so we have spectacles. Legs were visibly instituted to be breeched, and we have breeches.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/observe-that-noses-were-made-to-wear-spectacles-and-so-we-have/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [What do you want?" Sophronia was moved to exasperation. "Me? Stockings and breeches to come back in fashion. I do miss seeing a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/what-do-you-want-sophronia-was-moved-to-exasperation-me-stockings-and/)

[Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/)

> [We know but a few men, a great many coats and breeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-know-but-a-few-men-a-great-many-coats-and-breeches/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

## More by Ted Mendelssohn

> [“Step One: Grab Mattie. Step Two: Run. It wasn't much of a plan. But what it lacked in potential it made up for in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-mendelssohn/step-one-grab-mattie-step-two-run-it-wasn-t-much-of-a-plan-but-what/)

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[Ted Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mendelssohn/)

[Explore all 3 Ted Mendelssohn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-mendelssohn/)

## More Breeches quotes

> [We know but a few men, a great many coats and breeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-know-but-a-few-men-a-great-many-coats-and-breeches/)

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[George MacDonald Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald-fraser/)

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[Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/)

> [There's no taking trout with dry breeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/there-s-no-taking-trout-with-dry-breeches/)

[Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/)

> [Clergymen have much the same in their breeches as other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-aston/clergymen-have-much-the-same-in-their-breeches-as-other-men/)

[Elizabeth Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-aston/)

[Browse all 15 Breeches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breeches/)

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