pluck/screw/summon up courage

pluck up (one's) courage

To emotionally prepare oneself to do a frightening or overwhelming task; to bolster one's courage. I'm really nervous about asking Sarah out on a date, but I just need to pluck up my courage and go through with it. I know he's terrified of speaking in public, so he's plucking up his courage with a stiff drink.See also: courage, pluck, up

pluck up the courage to (do something)

To bolster one's courage or emotionally prepare oneself enough to do a frightening or overwhelming task. I want to ask Sarah out on a date, but I'm trying to pluck up the courage to do it! I know he's terrified of speaking in public, so he's having a drink to help pluck up the courage to go on stage.See also: courage, pluck, up

screw up the courage to (do something)

To bolster one's courage or emotionally prepare oneself enough to do a frightening or overwhelming task. I want to ask Sarah out on a date, but I'm trying to screw up the courage to do it! I know he's terrified of speaking in public, so he's having a drink to help screw up the courage to go on stage.See also: courage, screw, up

summon up (one's) courage

To emotionally prepare oneself to do a frightening or overwhelming task; to bolster one's courage. I'm really nervous about asking Sarah out on a date, but I just need to summon up my courage and go through with it. I know he's terrified of speaking in public, so he's summoning up his courage with a stiff drink.See also: courage, summon, up

summon up the courage to (do something)

To bolster one's courage or emotionally prepare oneself enough to do a frightening or overwhelming task. I want to ask Sarah out on a date, but I'm trying to summon up the courage to do it! I know he's terrified of speaking in public, so he's having a drink to help summon up the courage to go on stage.See also: courage, summon, up

pluck up someone's courage

to bolster someone's, including one's own, courage. I hope you are able to pluck up your courage so that you can do what has to be done. Some good advice from a friend helped pluck up my courage.See also: courage, pluck, up

screw up one's courage

Fig. to build up one's courage. I guess I have to screw up my courage and go to the dentist. I spent all morning screwing up my courage to take my driver's test.See also: courage, screw, up

pluck/screw/summon up (your/the) ˈcourage (to do something)

force yourself to be brave enough to do something: I had liked her for a long time, and eventually I plucked up the courage to ask her out. ♢ I finally screwed up my courage and went to the dentist.See also: courage, pluck, screw, summon, up