built up the courage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "built up the courage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the process of gathering the bravery or confidence to do something challenging or intimidating. Example: "After weeks of hesitation, she finally built up the courage to ask for a promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Trying to sell your property has become a much trickier endeavour over the past year, as house prices have slumped more than 15 per cent, and buyers have built up the courage to make ever more audacious offers.

Independent

Metcalfe told an Inside Soap reporter that this left Mercedes "devastated" as she has "built up the courage to go through with it".

Wikipedia

When I built up the courage to confront him he conceded that no one had complained – but refused to apologise.

The Guardian

In spring 2007, at a party for a colleague, Mr. Gonzalez said, he built up the courage to profess his feelings by drinking several Moscow mules.

The New York Times

By the time I had built up the courage to say more than "hey" – often mumbled – most people had found a group of friends, which then seemed impenetrable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tackling stigma and speaking openly about mental illness is one thing, but once you've built up the courage to go to the doctor, the services need to be there.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"But I didn't build up the courage to approach her".

The New York Times

Some of them took a few seconds to build up the courage to stare at him and point at him; others did it quickly and without emotion.

The New York Times

Somebody like Ryan has to build up the courage to act; I was a lot like that when I was his age.

The Guardian

It took me years to build up the courage to talk to my wife, Tanya, because I knew her in high school 20 years ago.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Her story begins in 1810 in Vienna, where, now 65, she finally builds up the courage to record her memories of those chaotic final days.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "built up the courage" to describe a gradual process of gaining confidence, especially when facing something intimidating or difficult.

Common error

Avoid using "built up the courage" when the action itself clearly demonstrates great courage. For instance, instead of saying "The firefighter built up the courage to enter the burning building", it's more impactful to simply state, "The firefighter entered the burning building."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "built up the courage" functions as a verb phrase, typically serving as the predicate of a clause. It describes the process of gradually increasing one's bravery or confidence to undertake a challenging action. As shown in Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

23%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "built up the courage" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides several examples across various sources. This phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business contexts, signifying a process of gaining confidence to face challenges. While relatively uncommon, the phrase is well-understood and can be effectively used to describe emotional preparation. Related phrases include "mustered the courage" and "gathered the nerve". Remember to avoid using this phrase when the action already implies significant courage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mustered the courage

Implies gathering existing courage rather than gradually increasing it.

found the courage

Suggests discovering courage within oneself, possibly unexpectedly.

summoned the courage

Emphasizes a deliberate act of calling upon inner strength.

gathered the nerve

Replaces "courage" with "nerve", implying boldness or audacity.

got up the nerve

An informal phrasing of "gathered the nerve".

acquired the bravery

Uses "bravery" instead of "courage", highlighting the boldness of the action.

steeled oneself

Focuses on preparing oneself mentally and emotionally for a challenge.

braced oneself

Highlights the act of preparing for something difficult or unpleasant.

took heart

Suggests gaining encouragement and confidence.

plucked up the courage

An older, slightly more formal alternative to "built up the courage".

FAQs

How can I use "built up the courage" in a sentence?

You can use "built up the courage" to describe someone gradually finding the confidence to do something difficult or daunting. For example, "After weeks of practice, she finally built up the courage to sing on stage."

What are some alternatives to "built up the courage"?

Alternatives include "mustered the courage", "summoned the courage", or "gathered the nerve". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "build up the courage" or "built up the courage"?

"Built up the courage" is the past tense form, used when the action of gaining courage has already happened. "Build up the courage" is the infinitive form, used when referring to the process of gaining courage in general or in the future.

What's the difference between "built up the courage" and "found the courage"?

"Built up the courage" implies a gradual process of gaining confidence over time, while "found the courage" suggests a more sudden realization or discovery of inner strength.