pluck up
Related to pluck up: braveness
pluck up
1. To take or remove something (from something or a lower position) by plucking or snatching it. (In each usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pluck" and "up.") He stooped over and plucked up a weed that had appeared in the flowerbed. She plucked the penny up from the ground and slipped it into her pocket.
2. To bolster, muster, or summon some helpful or emboldening emotion, especially courage. I want to ask Sarah out on a date, but I need to pluck up the courage to do it! I'm telling you, you have what it takes to succeed on stage. You just need to pluck your confidence up a bit.
3. To acquire someone or something as a result of a business transaction. The media conglomerate has been plucking up dozens of smaller companies over the last few years. He was supposed to be the best goalie in the league when we plucked him up last season, but he's been a real disappointment.
See also: pluck, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- pluck out
- pluck out of pluck out
- pluck something from the air
- pluck something out of the air
- pluck (something) from the air
- pluck (something) out of the/thin air
- grow in
- snatch up
- crying weed
- pluck at (something)