work my courage up vs work up my courage

Both phrases are correct, but 'work up my courage' is the more commonly used and idiomatic expression in English. It is used to convey the idea of building or summoning courage. 'Work my courage up' is less common and may sound a bit awkward to native English speakers.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1439 views

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

"work my courage up"

This phrase means to build or summon courage. It is grammatically correct but may sound a bit awkward to native English speakers.

Show examples from the web [+]

After you saw the e-mails you started drinking to work up courage to confront your so-called friend.
I've tried to work up the courage a hundred times.
As predicted, he's trying to work up the courage.
The guy who took three weeks to work up the courage to ask you out.
Well, if I can ever work up the courage to ask you again, I'll send written warning first.
He was drinking a lot, you know, to work up the courage.
I had to drink a half a bottle of gin just to work up the courage.
I just wish Leonard would work up the courage to tell Sheldon he's moving in here.
Maybe I'll have two if my mom finally works up the courage to propose to her bowling partner.
I couldn't work up the courage to say three words to Toby.
I can feel you trying to work up the courage to ask me something.
That's to work up the courage to get to phase 2 - taking real steps to achieve said goal.
No, no, he's got to work up the courage first.
So he starts with dogs in his own neighborhood, then when he works up the courage, he hops on the bus and finds his first human victim.
Take you that long to work up the courage?
I followed him, tried to work up the courage to beg him to change my grade.
You won't read this till you get back if I work up courage to send it.
Are you going to tell me why you traveled all this way, or would you like a little Burgundy red wine to work up your courage?
You know you have to do it, but when it comes right down to it, it's hard to work up the courage.
You still can't work up the courage to shoot me, can you?

Alternatives:

summon my courage
gather my courage
build up my courage
muster my courage
find my courage

This phrase is the more commonly used and idiomatic expression in English.

"work up my courage"

This phrase also means to build or summon courage. It is the preferred and more natural way to express this idea in English.

Show examples from the web [+]

After you saw the e-mails you started drinking to work up courage to confront your so-called friend.
I've tried to work up the courage a hundred times.
As predicted, he's trying to work up the courage.
The guy who took three weeks to work up the courage to ask you out.
Well, if I can ever work up the courage to ask you again, I'll send written warning first.
He was drinking a lot, you know, to work up the courage.
I had to drink a half a bottle of gin just to work up the courage.
I just wish Leonard would work up the courage to tell Sheldon he's moving in here.
Maybe I'll have two if my mom finally works up the courage to propose to her bowling partner.
I couldn't work up the courage to say three words to Toby.
I can feel you trying to work up the courage to ask me something.
You won't read this till you get back if I work up courage to send it.
That's to work up the courage to get to phase 2 - taking real steps to achieve said goal.
No, no, he's got to work up the courage first.
So he starts with dogs in his own neighborhood, then when he works up the courage, he hops on the bus and finds his first human victim.
Take you that long to work up the courage?
I followed him, tried to work up the courage to beg him to change my grade.
Are you going to tell me why you traveled all this way, or would you like a little Burgundy red wine to work up your courage?
You know you have to do it, but when it comes right down to it, it's hard to work up the courage.
You still can't work up the courage to shoot me, can you?

Alternatives:

summon up my courage
gather up my courage
build my courage up
muster up my courage
find my courage

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work my courage up vs work up my courage