bold as a lion—very brave and daring, especially in times of danger:
- He might have behaved timidly in life; in the book he would be bold as a lion.
bold as an Essex lion—(UK ironic) said of a very meek person:
- Oh! yes, he is as bold as an Essex lion, especially when there is no danger about.
Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase bold as brass—used of a shameless, impudent person:
- He came into my office as bold as brass and told me they would stop work if they didn’t get any more money.