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."
cowboy up
C1 informal intransitive
To show toughness and perseverance in the face of difficulty; to stop complaining and deal with a hard situation.
In plain English
To be tough and keep going even when things are hard or painful.
What does "cowboy up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To act like a cowboy — tough, self-reliant, and stoic — when faced with difficulty.
Actually means
To be tough and keep going even when things are hard or painful.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "cowboy up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
pain pressure challenge adversity game situation
How to conjugate "cowboy up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "cowboy up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cowboy up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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