pluck up

verb

transitive verb

1

: to assume an appearance of : bring to the fore : summon

plucked his nerve up to demand an explanation

2

: to eradicate by or as if by tearing up by the roots

intransitive verb

: to assume an appearance (as of valor) especially in response to a particular stress

Word History

Etymology

Middle English plucken up, from plucken to pluck + up, adverb

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