take one's courage in both hands

verb

To summon up one's courage in readiness for a difficult or dangerous action.

“I know that disobeying your father is hard, but you must take your courage in both hands and follow the path that's right for you.”

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Meanings

verbtake one's courage in both hands (third-person singular simple present takes one's courage in both hands, present participle taking one's courage in both hands, simple past took one's courage in both hands, past participle taken one's courage in both hands)

present singular third person takes one's courage in both hands · participle present taking one's courage in both hands · past took one's courage in both hands · participle past taken one's courage in both hands

  1. idiomaticTo summon up one's courage in readiness for a difficult or dangerous action.

    I know that disobeying your father is hard, but you must take your courage in both hands and follow the path that's right for you.

Origin

Compare French prendre son courage à deux mains.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

take one's courage in both hands. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20one's%20courage%20in%20both%20hands

MLA

“take one's courage in both hands.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20one's%20courage%20in%20both%20hands. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take one's courage in both hands,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20one's%20courage%20in%20both%20hands.

Source: take one's courage in both hands on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.