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nerve up

C1 informal intransitive

In simple words

To force yourself to be brave enough to do something scary.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

rare

To gather courage or resolve in preparation for something difficult or frightening.

"She nerved herself up and walked into the interview room."

Usage notes

Relatively rare. More common in older texts. Often used reflexively: 'nerve yourself up'. 'Pluck up courage' or 'muster up courage' are far more common alternatives today.

Commonly used with

courage oneself

Forms

Base

nerve up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

nerves up

he/she/it

Past simple

nerved up

yesterday

Past participle

nerved up

have + pp

-ing form

nerving up

continuous

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Synonyms

pluck up muster up steel yourself brace yourself screw up your courage

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