man up

To show courage and deal with something difficult, in a way traditionally expected of a man.

• Man up and tell the truth.
• She told him to man up and face his responsibilities.
• He finally manned up and apologized.

How to use it: man up and do something (He told himself to man up and admit his mistake.)

Similar words: be brave, toughen up, show courage

Opposites: chicken out

Common phrases: man up now, man up already, man up first

To gather at your assigned working positions, ready for a ship or aircraft to leave.

• The crew must man up before departure.
• The sailors manned up as the captain prepared to leave port.
• Everyone had manned up by the time the engines started.

Similar words: take stations, report to stations

Common phrases: man up early, man up aboard, man up now

To provide enough workers to fill all the positions needed for a job or service.

• We must man up the night shift.
• The company manned up its maintenance team before opening the factory.
• Can they man up the operation by Monday?

How to use it: man up something (We need to man up the new production line.)

Similar words: staff, staff up

Common phrases: man up something, man up fully, man up quickly

To closely guard the opposing player you have been assigned to stop.

• Man up and stop your player scoring.
• The defenders manned up as the other team attacked.
• You need to man up on their tallest player.

How to use it: man up on someone (The coach told Lee to man up on their best scorer.)

Similar words: mark, guard

Common phrases: man up tightly, man up defensively, man up now