B2 verb Neutre

brace

/breɪs/

To prepare oneself for something difficult, unpleasant, or challenging that is about to happen. It can also mean to physically support or strengthen something to prevent it from moving or collapsing.

Exemples

3 sur 5
1

I had to brace myself against the door to keep it from blowing open in the wind.

I had to brace myself against the door to keep it from blowing open in the wind.

2

The government warned citizens to brace for a period of significant economic austerity.

The government warned citizens to brace for a period of significant economic austerity.

3

Brace yourself, because you are not going to believe what happened at the party!

Brace yourself, because you are not going to believe what happened at the party!

Famille de mots

Nom
brace
Verb
brace
Adverbe
bracingly
Adjectif
bracing
Apparenté
bracing
💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'braces' on teeth: they support and hold the teeth in place to prepare them for a perfect smile. To brace is to hold tight and get ready.

Quiz rapide

The coastal residents were told to _______ for the arrival of the hurricane.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : brace

Exemples

1

I had to brace myself against the door to keep it from blowing open in the wind.

everyday

I had to brace myself against the door to keep it from blowing open in the wind.

2

The government warned citizens to brace for a period of significant economic austerity.

formal

The government warned citizens to brace for a period of significant economic austerity.

3

Brace yourself, because you are not going to believe what happened at the party!

informal

Brace yourself, because you are not going to believe what happened at the party!

4

Architects must ensure the internal structure is braced against seismic activity.

academic

Architects must ensure the internal structure is braced against seismic activity.

5

The corporation is bracing for a hostile takeover bid from its main competitor.

business

The corporation is bracing for a hostile takeover bid from its main competitor.

Famille de mots

Nom
brace
Verb
brace
Adverbe
bracingly
Adjectif
bracing
Apparenté
bracing

Collocations courantes

brace for impact brace for impact
brace yourself brace yourself
brace against the wall brace against the wall
brace for the worst brace for the worst
heavily braced heavily braced

Phrases Courantes

brace yourself for something

prepare yourself for something

brace for the impact

prepare for a physical or metaphorical hit

brace for the storm

prepare for upcoming trouble

Souvent confondu avec

brace vs embrace

Embrace means to hug or accept something enthusiastically, whereas brace means to prepare for something difficult.

brace vs bracket

A bracket is a punctuation mark or a support for a shelf, but brace as a verb focuses on the act of strengthening or preparing.

📝

Notes d'usage

When used mentally, it is almost always reflexive (brace yourself) or used with the preposition 'for'. When used physically, it often involves the preposition 'against'.

⚠️

Erreurs courantes

Learners often forget the preposition 'for' when using the verb to mean preparation; they might say 'brace the impact' instead of 'brace for the impact'.

💡

Astuce mémo

Think of 'braces' on teeth: they support and hold the teeth in place to prepare them for a perfect smile. To brace is to hold tight and get ready.

📖

Origine du mot

Derived from the Old French 'brace' meaning 'arms', referring to the distance between two arms or the act of clasping with the arms.

Modèles grammaticaux

brace oneself (reflexive) brace for + noun brace something against something else

Quiz rapide

The coastal residents were told to _______ for the arrival of the hurricane.

Correct !

La bonne réponse est : brace

Expressions liées

Mots lis

annul

C1

To officially declare a legal agreement, decision, or marriage invalid and void, treating it as if it never existed. It is primarily used in legal and formal contexts to revoke the legitimacy of an act or contract.

anomaly

C1

An anomaly is something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. It is frequently used in scientific, technical, or statistical contexts to describe a data point or occurrence that does not fit an established pattern.

antagonist

C1

To act in opposition to someone or something, or to provoke hostility and anger through specific actions or behavior. It involves intentionally or unintentionally creating an adversary or causing someone to become unfriendly.

anthology

C1

A published collection of poems, short stories, or other pieces of writing, often from different authors. It can also refer to a collection of musical works or films that share a common theme or style.

antipathy

C1

A deep-seated feeling of dislike, aversion, or hostility toward someone or something. It often describes an instinctive or long-standing emotional opposition rather than a temporary annoyance.

antithesis

C1

The antithesis is a person or thing that is the direct or polar opposite of someone or something else. It also refers to a rhetorical device where two contrasting ideas are placed together in a balanced grammatical structure to achieve a contrasting effect.

amalgamate

C1

To combine or unite multiple components, organizations, or ideas into a single, integrated whole. It describes a process where the original parts merge to form a larger, unified entity.

ameliorate

C1

To make something bad or unsatisfactory better, more tolerable, or more effective. It is frequently used in formal contexts to describe improving social conditions, medical symptoms, or structural problems.

amenable

C1

Amenable describes a person who is willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion, or a situation/thing that is capable of being acted upon in a particular way. It implies a cooperative attitude or a susceptibility to a specific process, authority, or treatment.

anxious

C1

A state of feeling worried, nervous, or uneasy about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. It can also describe a strong desire or eagerness to do something, often accompanied by a sense of tension.

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