muster courage

USAGE SUMMARY

"muster courage" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize the process of building courage in a difficult situation. For example, "She had to muster courage to make the speech in front of such a large audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Me Gustas Tu is about a girl who is trying to muster courage and overcome shyness to ask a boy out on a date.

The Guardian - Music

"With the mobile phone you would communicate densely and freely with people whom you are comfortable with," said Mr. Katayose, "but for an offkai you have to muster courage to actually meet".

The New York Times

Political leaders and policy makers will also have to muster courage and persistence in the face of pessimists, who will inevitably question whether people who were once homeless can be good neighbors and citizens.

The New York Times

Most people can muster courage or find motivation for short periods in extreme circumstances.

Forbes

How, then, does one expect women to muster courage and fight for justice?

Huffington Post

What we see in organizations are people looking for ways to cope with some difficult and challenging situations at work, and to muster courage to make changes.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Adult's mustering courage to make the descent.

The Guardian - Travel

Melbourne-based quartet Mustered Courage are creating a new style of alternative bluegrass.

The Guardian - Music

Rachael Bland mustered courage and energy to try to make the lives of other cancer sufferers easier by making the illness more talked about.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many people have trouble mustering courage to negotiate with bosses or adversaries.

Los Angeles Times

Muster the courage to feel what actually exists inside you; the courage of an open heart.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "muster courage" when you want to highlight the deliberate effort required to build bravery in the face of fear or adversity. It emphasizes the internal struggle and the active process of overcoming it.

Common error

Avoid using "muster courage" in situations where simple confidence would suffice. The phrase implies a significant internal challenge, so reserve it for scenarios that genuinely require overcoming substantial fear or hesitation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "muster courage" functions as a verb phrase, where "muster" acts as a transitive verb requiring an object (courage). As Ludwig AI explains, this indicates an active process of building or gathering the necessary bravery to face a challenging situation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "muster courage" describes the act of actively building or gathering bravery in the face of fear or adversity. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is used to express the effort and determination involved in overcoming apprehension. While considered neutral, it's best suited for scenarios requiring a touch of solemnity, avoiding trivial situations where simpler expressions of confidence suffice. Alternative phrases like "summon courage" and "gather courage" offer similar meanings with slight nuances in connotation. Its frequency of use is uncommon, primarily appearing in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

summon courage

Focuses on actively calling upon one's inner strength.

pluck up the courage

Highlights the effort required to overcome fear or hesitation.

find courage

Suggests discovering courage that already exists within oneself.

gather courage

Implies accumulating courage over time or through effort.

demonstrate bravery

Focuses on showcasing courage through actions.

build resilience

Emphasizes developing the ability to recover from difficult situations.

exhibit fortitude

Emphasizes displaying strength and endurance in the face of adversity.

brace oneself

Suggests preparing for something difficult or unpleasant.

steel oneself

Implies hardening oneself emotionally for a challenging situation.

face the challenge

Directly addresses confronting a difficult situation with courage.

FAQs

How can I use "muster courage" in a sentence?

You can use "muster courage" to describe someone preparing for a difficult task, such as "She had to muster courage to give the presentation". It emphasizes the effort required to overcome fear or apprehension.

What's a similar phrase to "muster courage"?

Alternatives include "summon courage", "gather courage", or "pluck up the courage", all suggesting an effort to find inner strength.

Is it always appropriate to use "muster courage"?

While grammatically correct, "muster courage" is best used when facing genuine fear or adversity. Using it in trivial situations can sound overly dramatic.

What is the difference between "muster courage" and "find courage"?

"Muster courage" suggests actively building or creating courage, whereas "find courage" implies discovering an existing inner strength. The former emphasizes effort, the latter discovery.