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.

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.

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.

summon (one) before (someone)

To demand, instruct, or request that one come to or appear in front of someone. Often used in passive constructions. The leaders of congress were summoned before the president to explain the status of the tax overhaul. The king summoned the traitor before him to pass judgment.

summon (one) to

1. To demand or instruct that one come to or appear at some place or thing. The president summoned the congressional leader to his office to explain the status of the tax legislation. He summoned me to the front of the class to read the note out loud.

2. To demand or instruct that one do something; to order one to take a particular action. I summoned the criminal to lay down his weapon and surrender. The boss summoned him to deliver the package himself.

summon up

To elicit or evoke something; to uncover and draw forth something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "summon" and "up." I just couldn't summon the courage up to confront my boss about the issue. His memory is remarkable—he can summon up the most mundane details from weeks ago.

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.

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.

summon someone before someone or something

to request or order someone to appear before someone or a group. The president summoned the committee before her. The judge summoned Donna before the court.

summon someone to someone or something

to order or request someone to come to someone or something. Uncle Fred summoned the waitress to him. He summoned her to our table.

summon something up

to call forth particular qualities, such as strength, courage, wisdom, etc. She summoned her courage up and went into the room. Liz summoned up all her courage.

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

summon up

To call something forth; evoke something: I summoned up my courage and dove into the deep water. At first I couldn't remember the telephone number, but I summoned it up by concentrating very hard.