pluck (redirected from plucked)

get enough nerve up (to do something) and get enough courage up (to do something); get enough guts up (to do something); get enough pluck up (to do something); get enough spunk up (to do something); get the nerve up (to do something); get the courage up (to do something); get the guts up (to do something); get the pluck up (to do something); get the spunk up (to do something)

Fig. to work up enough courage to do something. I hope I can get enough nerve up to ask her for her autograph. I wanted to do it, but I couldn't get up enough nerve. I thought he would never get up the courage to ask me for a date.

See also: enough, get, nerve, up

pluck something from someone or something

to pick, grab, or snatch something from someone. Sally plucked a chocolate from the box and popped it into her mouth. He stooped over and plucked a rose from the bush.

pluck something off (of) someone or something and pluck something off

to pick something off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) She plucked the mosquito off his back before it could bite him. She plucked off the bud.

pluck something out of something and pluck something out

to snatch something out of something. She plucked the coin out of his hand and put it in her pocket. Reaching into the fountain, Jane plucked out the coin.

See also: out

pluck at someone or something

to pull or pick at someone or something. Kelly plucked at Ed, picking off the burrs that had caught on his clothing. Kelly plucked at the strings of the guitar.

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, 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

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pluck something out of the air

if you pluck a number out of the air, you say any number and not one that is the result of careful calculation That figure of eighty thousand pounds isn't something we've just plucked out of the air. We've done a detailed costing of the project.

See also: air, out

screw up your courage

to force yourself to be brave and do something that makes you nervous She screwed up her courage and asked to see the manager.

See also: courage, screw, up

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screw up (your) courage also pluck up (your) courage

to force yourself to be brave Jimmy screwed up his courage and gave Lisa a heart-shaped box of chocolates on Valentine's Day.

See also: courage, screw, up