pluck up (the) courage (to do something)to force yourself to be brave and do something you are afraid of doing
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
pluck up one's courage{v. phr.} To force yourself to be brave.
The small boy screwed up his courage and went upstairs in the dark. When his father came home in a bad mood, it took Pete some time to screw up his courage and ask him for a dollar. Compare: WHISTLE IN THE DARK.
See: SCREW UP ONE'S COURAGE.
[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲