Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to grow some balls

to grow some balls

4 9.9
To become braver and act when you are afraid
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : tener cojones
  • If you want to succeed in this competition, you have to grow some balls and take risks.

Examples

  • "Grow some balls and fight fire with fire."

    Blog text (5)

  • Get politicians to grow some balls.

    Blog text (9)

  • Well , you sure picked a hell of a time to grow some balls.

    Wild at Heart (1990)

  • If you ever want to see your family again, you better grow some balls.

    Shuttle (2008)

  • The Senate and House need to grow some balls and get rid of this disease in our White House.

    Blog text (3)

  • When are the Americans going to grow some balls?

    Blog text (5)

  • They need to grow some balls and stop being afraid.

    Blog text (14)

  • Grow some balls, man.

    How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)

  • Grow some balls, Floyd.

    Blog text (23)

  • You need to grow some balls and confront your boss about the unfair treatment.

Synonyms

to buck up
vsto grow some balls
  • Informal
14 6.3

To become or make someone more cheerful and confident

refers to internal development of courage rather than being cheered by others
to grow a pair
vsto grow some balls
  • Offensive
8 9.9

To become braver and more confident in difficult situations

is the same idea but used with vulgar informal tone
to grow a set
vsto grow some balls
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To become more brave and confident when facing problems

focuses specifically on courage in risky situations rather than general confidence
to grow some skin
vsto grow some balls
  • Informal
9.4

To become less upset by criticism or problems

applies to taking risky actions and showing courage, not only emotional toughness

Antonyms

to cower
41 6.1

To bend down or move back because you are afraid

to shrink back
  • Informal
1 4.7

Move away because you are afraid or disgusted

How Brave

to take risks
56 3.2
to grow some balls
  • Offensive
4 9.9
to hesitate
318 2.5
to cower
41 6.1

Surface Forms

grow some balls infinitive
grew some balls past
grown some balls past participle
growing some balls present participle
grows some balls third person singular

Morphology

grow + some + ball

The literal words ('grow' = develop, 'some' = unspecified amount, 'balls' = vulgar slang for testicles) provide a clear metaphorical mapping from physical body parts to courage, so parts give a strong clue to the idiomatic meaning. However, understanding this requires cultural/pragmatic knowledge of the vulgar metaphor and register; a B1 learner who only knows the word meanings may not reliably infer the intended sense, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Grow some balls The phrase uses the strong image of balls as a symbol of courage. One popular idea is that telling someone to grow some balls means telling them to 'become braver' and finally take action.