English Reference
Idiom idiom

have a pair


To be manly, brave.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He needs to have a pair and tell the truth.

CONTEXTUAL

If you want to lead this team, you need to have a pair and make the hard decisions.

COMPLEX

The captain urged his soldiers to have a pair, reminding them that true courage is found only in the face of certain danger.


Abbreviation of "have a pair of testicles," the masculine glands supporting generation and sexual potency.


Related idioms6entries
  1. 01

    extra pair of hands

    The assistance of another person.

  2. 02

    get a pair

    Synonym of grow a pair.

  3. 03

    grow a pair

    To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.

  4. 04

    pair of shoes

    A case or situation that is different from another.

  5. 05

    show a clean pair of heels

    To run away; to make an escape quickly.

  6. 06

    strap on a pair

    To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed to do so.

Last updated August 10, 2026