summon the courage

USAGE SUMMARY

This is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to express the idea of gaining the mental strength necessary to do something difficult or unpleasant. For example: "With the deadline rapidly approaching, I had to summon the courage to finish the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How do you summon the courage to call up an important person?

The New York Times

Both sides must summon the courage to tackle extremely sensitive issues, like settlements.

The New York Times

Crucify him!" It took him two years to summon the courage to return.

The New York Times

Above all, we must summon the courage to talk frankly and constructively about sexuality.

The New York Times

Congress must summon the courage to reshape and reduce this undisciplined budget.

The New York Times

I hope that Congress will summon the courage to pass this legislation.

The New York Times

It took her several days to summon the courage to ask him out for that cup of coffee.

The New York Times

His Holiness could not summon the courage to go up to the mike and read one of his own poems.

The New Yorker

"I am pained that my other colleagues could not summon the courage to run away with me," Ms Lawan said.

Independent

"Some people ski solo to the North Pole, while some have to summon the courage to cross a restaurant floor".

The New York Times

We are asked to summon the courage and the intelligence to resolve today's many geopolitical and economic crises.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "summon the courage" to emphasize a conscious effort to overcome fear or anxiety in order to achieve a goal. This phrase suggests a deliberate act of mental and emotional preparation.

Common error

Avoid using "summon the courage" when the situation passively inspires bravery without active intent. For instance, don't say "The beautiful sunset summoned the courage" if the sunset simply created a serene atmosphere. Instead, focus on scenarios where individuals actively seek and find the strength within themselves.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "summon the courage" functions as a verb phrase, where 'summon' acts as a transitive verb requiring an object ('courage'). It describes the action of deliberately calling upon inner strength or bravery. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "summon the courage" is a versatile and widely used expression that describes the act of deliberately calling upon one's inner strength to face a challenge. Grammatically correct and categorized as a phrase, it functions as a verb phrase where 'summon' is a transitive verb. As Ludwig AI confirms, its communicative purpose involves mentally preparing for difficult situations, and it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts such as news articles, business communications, and everyday conversations. The phrase's frequent occurrence in news and media sources underlines its relevance in reporting situations that demand bravery and resolution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

summon one's inner strength

Explicitly mentions inner strength instead of just courage.

muster the bravery

Changes the verb from 'summon' to 'muster' and replaces 'courage' with 'bravery', both suggesting gathering inner strength.

find the strength

Replaces 'courage' with 'strength', focusing on the inner power needed.

steel oneself

Uses a figurative expression meaning to prepare oneself for something difficult or unpleasant.

pluck up the courage

Uses the idiom 'pluck up' which means to force oneself to be brave enough to do something.

nerve oneself

Emphasizes mental preparation and focus on overcoming fear.

get up the nerve

Similar to 'pluck up the courage', but with a slightly more informal tone.

brace oneself

Focuses on preparing for a shock or impact, either physical or emotional.

gather one's resources

Highlights the act of collecting inner strengths and abilities to confront a challenge.

develop resilience

Focuses on building the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "summon the courage" in a sentence?

You can use "summon the courage" to describe the act of finding the mental strength to face a daunting task or situation. For example, "She had to "summon the courage" to speak in front of a large audience".

What are some alternatives to "summon the courage"?

Some alternatives include "muster the bravery", "find the strength", or "steel oneself". These phrases all suggest finding inner strength to overcome a challenge.

Is it grammatically correct to say "summon up the courage"?

While "summon the courage" is perfectly correct and widely used, "summon up the courage" is also acceptable and conveys a similar meaning, emphasizing the effort involved in gathering one's courage.

What's the difference between "summon the courage" and "find the courage"?

"Summon the courage" implies a more deliberate and conscious effort to call upon inner strength. "Find the courage", on the other hand, suggests discovering or realizing the strength one already possesses. The first implies an act of will, while the second implies a moment of realization.