brace

Related to brace: brace oneself

belt and braces

A multipronged, perhaps excessively cautious, approach to try to ensure a particular outcome. Primarily heard in UK. Even though I'd set the alarm clock in my room, I still asked the front desk for a wake-up call. I felt I had to go belt and braces to ensure that I'm not late for the big meeting tomorrow morning.
See also: and, belt, brace

brace (oneself) for (something)

To physically or mentally prepare oneself for something, typically something that is imminent, in an attempt to limit any adverse impact. I braced myself for that big bump by holding onto the seat in front of me. I had braced myself for rejection, so hearing that I'd gotten the promotion was a very pleasant surprise!
See also: brace

brace aback

dated In sailing, to turn the yards of the ship such that the wind pushes against the forward side of the sails, thus causing the ship to slow. We'll crash into those rocks if we don't slow down soon. Order the crew to brace aback, as quickly as possible!
See also: aback, brace

brace about

dated In sailing, to turn the yards of the ship to the opposite position in order to tack to the other side or accommodate a change in the wind. The winds were so changeable that day that we spent more time bracing about than we did anything else.
See also: brace

brace abox

dated In sailing, to turn the yards of the ship such that they are perpendicular to the oncoming wind, thus causing the ship to come to a stop. The captain ordered for the sails to be braced abox and for anchors to be dropped.
See also: brace

brace around

dated In sailing, to turn the yards of the ship to the opposite position in order to tack to the other side or accommodate a change in the wind. The winds were so changeable that we spent most of the day bracing around for the other tack.
See also: around, brace

brace by

dated In sailing, to turn the yards of different masts in opposite directions, usually so as to bring the ship to a stop. The captain ordered for the sails to be braced abox and for anchors to be dropped.
See also: brace, by

brace in

dated In sailing, to turn the yards of the ship such that they are square or nearly square, thus catching as much favorable wind as possible. We rushed to brace in as we felt the wind finally begin to pick up.
See also: brace

brace of shakes

Instantly, quickly, or in an extremely short amount of time, as of a task or event. "Brace," taken from the old French for the arms' breadth from hand to hand, means twice; the phrase as a whole refers either to an old nautical term, meaning the time it takes the sail to shake twice as it takes up the wind, or else the short time it takes to shake a dice-box twice. Often used in the phrase "in a brace of shakes." I'll have that ready for you in a brace of shakes. We'll be there in a brace of shakes.
See also: brace, of, shake

brace round

dated In sailing, to turn the yards of the ship to the opposite position in order to tack to the other side or accommodate a change in the wind. The winds were so changeable that we spent most of the day bracing round for the other tack.
See also: brace, round

brace up

1. To physically support, bolster , or reinforce someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brace" and "up." That picture frame is broken, so I braced it up with a candle to keep it from falling over.
2. To physically or mentally prepare oneself, someone, or something for something, typically something that is imminent, in an attempt to limit any adverse impact. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brace" and "up." I braced myself up for that big bump by holding onto the seat in front of me. I had braced myself up for rejection, so hearing that I'd gotten the promotion was a very pleasant surprise!
See also: brace, up

in a brace of shakes

Instantly, quickly, or in an extremely short amount of time, as of a task or event. "Brace," taken from the old French for the arms' breadth from hand to hand, means twice; the phrase as a whole refers either to an old nautical term, meaning the time it takes the sail to shake twice as it takes up the wind, or else the short time it takes to shake a dice-box twice. I'll have that ready for you in a brace of shakes. We'll be there in a brace of shakes.
See also: brace, of, shake

splice the mainbrace

nauticalTo issue and partake in an extra ration of alcoholic spirits, especially rum or grog, amongst members of crew aboard a sea vessel. The mainbrace (also spelled "main brace") is a brace attached to the main yard on sailing ships. "Splicing the mainbrace" originally referred to the very difficult job of repairing this brace, one which earned the repairman an extra ration of spirits; eventually, this euphemistic secondary meaning became the primary one. As part of the celebrations for her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen gave the order to all in the Royal Navy to splice the mainbrace as a gesture of good cheer.
See also: splice
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

brace oneself for something

 
1. Lit. to hang onto something or prop oneself against something in preparation for something that might cause one to fall, blow away, wash away, etc. Hold onto the rail. Brace yourself. Here comes another huge wave.
2. Fig. to prepare for the shock or force of something. Brace yourself for a shock. As the boat leaned to the right, I braced myself for whatever might happen next.
See also: brace

brace someone or something up

to prop up or add support to someone or something. They braced the tree up for the expected windstorm. They braced up the tree again after the storm.
See also: brace, up

brace up

to take heart; to be brave. Brace up! Things could be worse. I told John to brace up because things would probably get worse before they got better.
See also: brace, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

brace up

Also, brace oneself. Summon up one's courage or resolve, as in Brace up, we don't have much farther to go, or Squaring his shoulders, he braced himself for the next wave. This idiom uses brace in the sense of "to bolster" or "to strengthen." The first term dates from the early 1700s, the variant from about 1500.
See also: brace, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

belt and braces

BRITISH
If someone has a belt and braces approach to doing something, they take extra precautions to make sure that it will work properly. A trawl of the computer system should reveal if customers were charged too much. `It's a belt and braces approach to check for irregularities,' said the bank. He described airport security as an overly belt and braces approach, at huge cost to industry. Note: Trousers that are held up by a belt as well as a pair of braces (= two straps over the shoulder) are less likely to fall down.
See also: and, belt, brace
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

belt and braces

(of a policy or action) providing double security by using two means to achieve the same end. British
This meaning developed from the idea of a literal belt and braces holding up a pair of loose-fitting trousers.
2002 Digital Photography Made Easy Oddly, the manual is also on CD, which seems a bit belt and braces (though useful if you lose the original).
See also: and, belt, brace

splice the main brace

1 (in the Royal Navy) serve out an extra tot of rum. 2 serve out or start to consume alcoholic drinks. British informal
A sailing ship's main brace is a rope attached to its main spar. Splicing it (making a connection in it by interweaving strands) would have been a particularly onerous task, and the phrase probably arose from the custom of awarding sailors who did it an extra ration of rum.
See also: brace, main, splice
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

brace up

v.
1. To provide something or someone with additional support; prop up someone or something: We used plywood to brace up the wall paneling. The old tower would have fallen down if we hadn't braced it up.
2. To prepare or strengthen someone or something to face some challenge: We braced up the car for the road race. They gave me some encouraging words to brace me up for the interview. I'm glad you were braced up for your exams.
3. To summon one's strength or endurance; prepare to face a challenge: I spent all day bracing up for my performance in the concert that evening.
See also: brace, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • belt and braces
  • (all) dressed up like a pox doctor's clerk
  • basher
  • thumper
  • Bible
  • Bible-basher
  • Bible-thumper
  • clerk
  • (all) done up like a pox doctor's clerk
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