Take your courage in both hands

usgb
phrase

To gather up your strength or courage to do something that is scary or difficult.

I took my courage in both hands and told my boss I thought his decision was a mistake.
Visual representation of "take your courage in both hands" - To gather up your strength or courage to do something that is scary or difficult.

Often appears as...

  • take your courage in both hands and speak up
  • take your courage in both hands and face your fears

Usage tips

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "take your courage in both hands"
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Emotional Weight

The phrase emphasizes the emotional challenge before a daunting task.

Illustration for Emotional Weight
She took her courage in both hands before addressing the crowd.
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Moment of Decision

It's often used at the moment when a person decides to face a fear or make a difficult choice.

Illustration for Moment of Decision
He took his courage in both hands and finally asked for the promotion.
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Not Literal

The phrase is metaphorical; one doesn't literally grab anything with their hands.

Illustration for Not Literal
After hesitating, I took my courage in both hands and jumped into the pool.
Visual representation of the word "Take your courage in both hands"

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