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Glite Dictionary
brave as a lion

brave as a lion

1 4.2
Not afraid to do very dangerous or difficult things
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : valiente como un león
  • During the fire, he was brave as a lion, helping everyone escape safely.

Examples

  • She was brave as a lion when she stood up to the bully in the playground.

  • Brave as a lion, aren't you, girl?

    The Partisan (2025)

  • Daddy said Judah was as brave as a lion, like the lion over there.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I might have coward's legs but the rest of me's brave as a lion.

    Alice in Wonderland (1999)

  • The soldier was praised for being brave as a lion in the face of danger.

Synonyms

brave
vsbrave as a lion
906 1.0

Has courage when facing danger, pain or fear

expresses a higher degree of bravery than this general show of courage
courageous
vsbrave as a lion
157 3.3

Not afraid to face danger or problems

is stronger, meaning exceptional bravery rather than ordinary courage
heroic
vsbrave as a lion
154 3.8

Shows great courage when facing danger or difficulty

focuses on raw exceptional bravery rather than determined noble action
fearless
vsbrave as a lion
117 3.4

Shows courage in dangerous or hard situations

involves exceptional bravery, possibly despite fear, not only being unafraid
gallant
vsbrave as a lion
8 5.6

Being brave and lively in a bold, energetic way

is about extreme, exceptional bravery rather than stylish boldness
valorous
vsbrave as a lion
  • Formal
1 8.8

Being very brave when you face danger

is broader, applying to exceptional courage beyond only dangerous situations
lionhearted
vsbrave as a lion
  • Literature
1 7.5

Very brave and determined when facing danger

is the plain expression of exceptional courage without animal imagery
stouthearted
vsbrave as a lion
1 8.2

Brave and determined when facing danger or hard times

emphasizes extreme bravery as intensity rather than steady determination

How Brave

brave as a lion
  • Informal
1 4.2
courageous
157 3.3

Surface Forms

brave as a lion positive

Morphology

brave + as + a + lion

This is a straightforward simile: combining 'brave' with 'as a lion' transparently conveys an intensified form of courage. The constituent meanings directly yield 'extremely courageous', and similar animal-based similes exist across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The simile brave as a lion uses the picture of a lion, an animal people see as very brave, together with the word brave. That's why saying someone is brave as a lion means they are 'extremely courageous'.