brace up
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to make yourself feel stronger or more confident, especially before doing something difficult.
phrasal verb. to summon one's courage or resolve; to prepare oneself mentally or physically for a challenging situation.
You need to brace up before the big interview.
He took a deep breath to brace up before entering the room to deliver the bad news.
The captain urged his crew to brace up as the vessel approached the eye of the storm.
often used as an imperative or with a reflexive sense of gathering one's strength.
this is less common than 'brace yourself' and carries a slightly more old-fashioned or British tone of 'stiffening' one's resolve.
He braced up himself.He braced himself up.when used with a pronoun, the pronoun usually comes between the verb and the particle.
Last updated April 24, 2026