beard the lion in his / her den

/bˈiəd ðə lˈaɪən ɪn hɪz hɜː dˈɛn/

/bˈɪɹd ðə lˈaɪən ɪn hɪz hɜː dˈɛn/

[phrase]

to beard the lion in his / her den

[PHRASE]

to confront someone very powerful or dangerous in their area of control and strength, where they hold the advantage

to [beard] the lion in (his|her) den definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "beard the lion in his den" and when to use it?

The phrase "beard the lion in his den" originated from Shakespeare's play "Richard III" and refers to the act of confronting a powerful opponent or authority figure in their own territory or domain. It symbolizes the courage to face a formidable challenge or danger head-on. It is commonly employed in situations involving challenging authority figures, taking on formidable opponents, or standing up to influential individuals in their own stronghold.

Examples

1. Today I walked straight into his office and bearded the lion in his den.

2. Coming in person seemed the decent thing for Lily to do, bearding the lion in her den, so to speak.

Nearby words