gird one's loins
Prepare for difficulty
To gird one's loins is to prepare for action or difficulty.
The phrase comes from the ancient practice of tucking up loose robes into a belt before physical exertion or combat.
Now used figuratively: Gird your loins—the in-laws are coming.
The expression sounds deliberately archaic, often deployed with ironic formality before facing an unpleasant task.
- tightenMake more secure
- prepareMake ready beforehand
- brace yourselfPrepare for impact
- get readyMake preparations beforehand
- resolveFirmness of purpose
brace · ready · suit up · determination · roll up sleeves · adjust · gather · tuck · grit · cinch · equip · strategize · plan · steel oneself · take a deep breath · hitch up · secure · arrange
gird one's loinslet one's guard down
Cease being defensive
drop one's guard · rest on one's laurels · slack off · bury one's head in the sand · procrastinate
gird one's loinsrelax
Become less tense
unwind · stand down · decompress · loosen up · let go
gird one's loinsthrow in the towel
Concede defeat voluntarily
give up · surrender · retreat · back down · capitulate
gird, girds, girded, girding, girdle, girdles, girdled, girdling, loin