肝きもっ玉たま

noun

guts; courage; nerve

Colloquial term for boldness or fearlessness, often used in phrases like 肝っ玉が据わっている (to have nerves of steel) or 肝っ玉が小さい (to be timid).

• 彼かれは肝きもっ玉たまが据すわっていて、どんなピンチでも動どうじない。

  He has nerves of steel and stays calm no matter what.

• あの新しん人じんは肝きもっ玉たまが小ちいさいから、大だい事じな交こう渉しょうは任まかせられない。

  That new guy is too timid, so I can't trust him with important negotiations.