beard the lion in his den

beard the lion in his den

English

Alternative forms

• beard the lion

Etymology

From sense beard (“to confront”).

Verb

beard the lion in his den (third-person singular simple present beards the lion in his den, present participle bearding the lion in his den, simple past and past participle bearded the lion in his den)

1. (idiomatic) To confront an adversary in his or her own environment
   • 1808, Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto VI, st. 14:

     And darest thou then

     To beard the lion in his den,

     The Douglas in his hall?

   • 1840, Thomas Pringle and Josiah Conder, Narrative of a residence in South Africa‎, page 45:

     George and John Rennie, and James Ekron, a servant of my father’s, announced their determination to march in and beard the lion in his den, provided three of the Mulattoes, who were superior marksmen, would support them.

   • 1936, The Bankers magazine, Volume 132‎, page 307:

     Duty called me to beard the lion in his den; and though no Daniel, I took on the job without fear and trembling…

See also

• take the bull by the horns