# strap on a pair

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/strap-on-a-pair
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.