man up
Stop being weak
Man up is a command to show courage, toughness, or emotional stoicism—to behave as a "real man" supposedly should.
It's used when someone is perceived as complaining, hesitating, or showing weakness: Just man up and ask her out, Man up and deal with it.
The phrase reinforces traditional masculine expectations and is sometimes criticized as dismissive or sexist.
Boldness before danger
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
backbone · pluck · mettle · nerve · spunk · resilience · toughness · resolve
Obligation for one's actions
- dutyRequired moral task
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- ownershipLegal right of possession
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
dependability · commitment · adulting · answerability · charge · burden · maturity · conscientiousness
Excessive masculine pride
- toxic masculinityHarmful rigid male norms
- gender normsSocial expectations by sex
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- chauvinismMilitant devotion to group
patriarchy · alpha · dominance · traditional masculinity · gender roles · sexism · bravado · hypermasculinity
Pressured compliance through threats
- shamingCausing feelings of disgrace
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
confrontation · challenge · goading · peer pressure · hazing · pushing · prodding · policing
bravery
Boldness before danger
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
grit · backbone · pluck · mettle · nerve · spunk · resilience · toughness · resolve · determination
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- dutyRequired moral task
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- ownershipLegal right of possession
reliability · dependability · commitment · adulting · answerability · charge · burden · maturity · conscientiousness · trustworthiness
machismo
Excessive masculine pride
- toxic masculinityHarmful rigid male norms
- gender normsSocial expectations by sex
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
chauvinism · patriarchy · alpha · dominance · traditional masculinity · gender roles · sexism · bravado · hypermasculinity
coercion
Pressured compliance through threats
- shamingCausing feelings of disgrace
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
expectation · confrontation · challenge · goading · peer pressure · hazing · pushing · prodding · policing · calling out
- fighting wordsfight me, bring it, throw hands, step outside, lets go
- Lacrosselacrosse stick, lacrosse ball, goal, goalie, attack
- gender stereotypesboys will be boys, pink for girls, blue for boys, women drivers, toxic masculinity
- pep talkskeep going, you got this, hang in there, keep pushing, believe in yourself
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- couragebravery, resilience, fearlessness, boldness, courage
man upbreak down
Fail mechanically or emotionally
fall apart · let it out · have a meltdown · cry · wallow
man upcop out
Evade a commitment
shirk · make excuses · pass the buck · bail · flake out
man, up, woman, human, men, manly, humanity, inhuman, womanly