strap on a pair
To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed to do so.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You need to strap on a pair and tell him the truth.”
“Stop complaining about your boss and strap on a pair to ask for that raise.”
“Faced with the daunting prospect of public failure, he realized he had to strap on a pair and defend his research before the committee.”
The term entered the lexicon as a truncated imperative, functioning as an abbreviation of the phrase strap on a pair of testicles. It serves as a modern colloquialism for the acquisition of courage or fortitude.
- 01
extra pair of hands
The assistance of another person.
- 02
flat strap
At maximum capability, intensity, or speed.
- 03
get a pair
Synonym of grow a pair.
- 04
grow a pair
To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.
- 05
have a pair
To be manly, brave.
- 06
pair of shoes
A case or situation that is different from another.
- 07
show a clean pair of heels
To run away; to make an escape quickly.
Last updated August 10, 2026