grow a pair

English

Etymology

Abbreviation of "grow a pair of testicles".

Verb

grow a pair (third-person singular simple present grows a pair, present participle growing a pair, simple past grew a pair, past participle grown a pair)

1. (chiefly US, colloquial, idiomatic, somewhat vulgar) To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.

Usage notes

Occasionally used in reference to women.

• It's ironic because this backlash came the same week of our Katie Couric cover story — which prompted an outpouring of ... The Times wrote that Couric came off as freer about her frustration, while Salon told Couric to grow a pair.

Synonyms

• grow some balls, get a pair, strap on a pair

Translations

Translations

• German: lass dir Eier wachsen, lass dir ein Paar Eier wachsen

See also

• have a pair