Are you a man or a mouse?

Are you a man or a mouse?

A phrase of encouragement, typically in situations where courage is required. You have to confront your co-workers if they're mistreating you. Come on, are you a man or a mouse?

See also: man

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

man or a mouse, (are you) a

Bold and brave or timid and cowardly. This alliterative comparison dates from the sixteenth century, when an unknown writer penned, “Fear not, she saith unto her spouse, a man or a mouse whether ye be” (Scholehouse of Women, ca. 1541).

See also: man

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer