screw (one's) courage to the sticking place
screw (one's) courage to the sticking place
To remain bold, resolute, determined, and courageous, especially in the face of possible danger, difficulty, hardship, or adversity. Taken from a line in Shakespeare's Macbeth: "We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we'll not fail." Men, some of us may not make it back alive, but such is the nature of war; so screw your courage to the sticking place and show them what you're made of! I'm really nervous about asking Sarah out on a date, but I'm going to screw my courage to the sticking place and ask her by the end of the day.
See also: courage, place, screw, stick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- screw up (one's) courage to the sticking place
- hold (one's) nerve
- a stout heart
- put up a struggle
- hard knocks
- a lot of pluck
- what (one) is made of
- what somebody is made of
- reed before the wind lives on, while mighty oaks do fall
- a reed before the wind lives on(, while mighty oaks do fall)