English

Verb

strap on a pair

1. (idiomatic, indelicate) 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 Feb. 1, "The power of words," Automotive Industries (retrieved 29 Oct 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

See also

• have a pair