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Glite Dictionary
to strap on a pair

to strap on a pair

9.9
To be brave enough to do something difficult
  • phrasal verb
  • Slang
translation icon : agarrar valor
  • He finally decided to strap on a pair and ask his manager for a raise.

Examples

  • It's time to strap on a pair and face your fears!

  • You need to strap on a pair if you want to stand up to your boss.

  • It's time to strap on a pair and face the truth.

  • You need to strap on a pair if you want to succeed.

  • He finally decided to strap on a pair and ask his manager for a raise.

  • It's time to strap on a pair and face the truth.

  • You need to strap on a pair if you want to stand up to your boss.

Synonyms

to grow a pair
vsto strap on a pair
  • Offensive
8 9.9

To become braver and more confident in difficult situations

is used to describe a sudden, immediate push of bravery rather than gradual change
to take courage in both hands
vsto strap on a pair
7.9

To make yourself brave enough to do something difficult

is more informal and framed as slang rather than a deliberate phrase
to have a pair
vsto strap on a pair
  • UK
9.9

To be brave enough to do something difficult or risky

is about sudden, momentary bravery in one intimidating situation rather than a trait

Antonyms

to flee
331 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

to shrink back
  • Informal
1 4.7

Move away because you are afraid or disgusted

How Brave

to strap on a pair
  • Slang
9.9
to man up
  • Informal
36 7.9

Surface Forms

strap on a pair infinitive
strapped on a pair past
strapped on a pair past participle
strapping on a pair present participle
straps on a pair third person singular

Morphology

strap + on + a + pair

The literal senses of 'strap' (fasten), 'on' (preposition), 'a' (article) and 'pair' (two matching items) yield a physical action of fastening two items and do not transparently convey 'gather courage'. The idiomatic sense depends on slang/metonymy (implicit reference to male genitals and cultural usage) and thus requires cultural/pragmatic knowledge beyond knowing the constituent words, making it unpredictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Strap on a pair may come from the image of using strap on to fasten a pair of boots or armor before a dangerous task. That picture of getting ready explains why it means 'to gather courage' or 'to be brave'.