brace

To prepare yourself for something difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous.

• Brace yourself for a shock.
• We braced for a difficult winter.
• He braced himself before opening the exam results.

How to use it: brace for something (Coastal towns are bracing for the storm.); brace yourself for something (She braced herself for bad news.)

Similar words: prepare, steel

Common phrases: brace for something, brace yourself, brace yourself for

To hold your body or something else firmly so it can resist a push or force.

• He braced his legs before lifting.
• She braced herself against the sudden push.
• I braced my hands against the door as the crowd pressed forward.

How to use it: brace something against something (He braced his feet against the wall.); brace yourself against something (She braced herself against the wind.)

Similar words: steady, set

Common phrases: brace your feet, brace against something, brace something against

To make something stronger or steadier by adding supports.

• We need to brace that wall.
• Workers braced the damaged beams with timber.
• The frame was braced before the roof was added.

How to use it: brace something with something (They braced the roof with steel supports.)

Similar words: support, reinforce, prop

Common phrases: brace a wall, brace a beam, brace with something

A device worn in the mouth to move teeth into a straighter position.

• She wears a brace on her teeth.
• The dentist fitted my brace yesterday.
• He felt uncomfortable when his brace was tightened.

Similar words: orthodontic appliance

Common phrases: wear a brace, dental brace, brace fitted

Two things of the same kind, especially birds or other animals hunted for food.

• He brought home a brace of rabbits.
• A brace of pheasants hung by the door.
• The striker scored a brace of goals before half-time.

How to use it: a brace of something (The hunter returned with a brace of ducks.)

Similar words: pair, couple

Common phrases: a brace of, brace of pheasants, brace of goals

A tool with a bent handle that you turn by hand to drill holes.

• He used a brace to drill the hole.
• The carpenter turned the brace slowly.
• This old brace still works well with a sharp bit.

Similar words: bitstock

Common phrases: brace and bit, hand brace