grow a pair

English

Etymology

Clipping of grow a pair of balls.

Verb

grow a pair (third-person singular simple present grows a pair, present participle growing a pair, simple past grew a pair, past participle grown a pair)

  1. (chiefly US, colloquial, idiomatic, somewhat vulgar) To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.

Usage notes

Occasionally used in reference to women.

  • It's ironic because this backlash came the same week of our Katie Couric cover story — which prompted an outpouring of ... The Times wrote that Couric came off as freer about her frustration, while Salon told Couric to grow a pair.

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See also