cowboy up
C1 informal intransitive
In simple words
To be tough and keep going even when things are hard or painful.
Literal meaning: To act like a cowboy — tough, self-reliant, and stoic — when faced with difficulty.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To endure difficulty, pain, or adversity without complaining; to summon courage and resilience.
"The coach told the injured players to cowboy up and give everything they had in the final quarter."
Usage notes
Chiefly American, associated with the culture of the American West and rodeo. Often used in sports contexts when an athlete must push through pain. Can be seen as motivational or dismissive depending on context.
Commonly used with
pain pressure challenge adversity game situation
Forms
Base
cowboy up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cowboys up
he/she/it
Past simple
cowboyed up
yesterday
Past participle
cowboyed up
have + pp
-ing form
cowboying up
continuous
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