vulgar slang To act or behave in a strong, confident, and/or courageous manner. The phrase is short for "have a pair of testicles/balls," but is not exclusively said of a male. Often used with an intensifier, such as "quite a pair" or "a big pair." Primarily heard in US. Crime is really bad in this town, so you've got to have a big pair to be a police officer around here. Wow, your sister must have quite a pair to stand up to her boss like that!