strap on a pair

English

Etymology

Abbreviation of "strap on a pair of testicles".

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

strap on a pair (third-person singular simple present straps on a pair, present participle strapping on a pair, simple past and past participle strapped on a pair)

1. (chiefly US, colloquial, idiomatic, somewhat vulgar) To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed to do so.
   • 2002 July 17, "Parenting Forum," cleveland.com (Cleveland Plain Dealer) (retrieved 29 Oct 2008):

     The moral of the story is strap on a pair and be a man.

   • 2003 February 1, “The power of words”, in Automotive Industries, retrieved 29 October 2008:

     Somebody clearly needed to "strap on a pair" and say what needed to be said. Forget the flowery words and sensitivity training.

Synonyms

• get a pair, grow a pair
• man up
• ruck up

See also

• have a pair