gird up one's loins: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  HistoricalBiblical/older Englishliteralarchaic
  • To draw up and secure garments around the waist or loins to permit freer movement.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Before the race, the runner girded up his loins to ensure his shorts wouldn’t slow him down.

    Before the race, the runner girded up his loins to ensure his shorts wouldn’t slow him down.

  • She girds up her loins every morning before heading out to work on the farm, ready for a long day.

    She girds up her loins every morning before heading out to work on the farm, ready for a long day.

  • The knight girded up his loins, tightening his armor straps before entering the battle arena.

    The knight girded up his loins, tightening his armor straps before entering the battle arena.

  • They were taught to gird up their loins before climbing the steep mountain path to prevent accidents.

    They were taught to gird up their loins before climbing the steep mountain path to prevent accidents.

• 2.

  UKUSGlobal (English)idiomaticliteraryformal
  • To prepare oneself mentally or physically for a demanding task or challenge; to brace oneself for action.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Knowing the difficult meeting was ahead, she girded up her loins and prepared to face her critics.

    Knowing the difficult meeting was ahead, she girded up her loins and prepared to face her critics.

  • If you gird up your loins now, you’ll be ready to handle whatever challenges the project throws at you.

    If you gird up your loins now, you’ll be ready to handle whatever challenges the project throws at you.

  • He was told to gird up his loins because the upcoming exam would test everything he had learned.

    He was told to gird up his loins because the upcoming exam would test everything he had learned.