ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cowboy up

idiom
Meaning

To put on a more heterosexual manner, in order to fit in.

Examples
SIMPLE

He needs to cowboy up if he wants to fit in with them.

CONTEXTUAL

His friends told him to cowboy up and stop acting so sensitive at the party.

COMPLEX

Feeling the pressure to conform to traditional expectations, he decided to cowboy up and hide his true personality.

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    all hat and no cowboy

    Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.

  2. 02

    cowboy killer

    A cigarette.

  3. 03

    cowboy shower

    A simple shower in a horse trailer's living area to remove the dirt and grime associated with working around livestock.

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