1.
test of courage
An activity, typically done at night, where participants walk through a dark, scary location (such as a graveyard or forest) to test their bravery.
Cultural note
肝試し is a classic Japanese summer activity, especially popular at school camps, community events, and among groups of friends. Participants typically walk through a dark area (a forest, abandoned building, or graveyard) where others may be hiding to scare them. It is closely associated with the Japanese summer tradition of telling ghost stories (怪談).
Etymology
From 肝 (liver/courage) + 試し (test). In traditional Japanese thought, the liver was considered the seat of courage.
Common collocations
Related Words
Related:
肝を冷やす (to be terrified)