pluck

a lot of pluck

Courage, nerves, determination, or resolve, especially in the face of adversity or hardship. You've got a lot of pluck, kid, standing up to a big brute like that.

a crow to pluck

An issue to discuss—typically one that is a source of annoyance for the speaker. Hey, I have a crow to pluck with you! Why didn't you put gas in my car after you borrowed it?

Mother Carey is plucking her chickens

It is snowing. This phrase alludes to "Mother Carey's chickens," which is what sailors call birds they believe are indicative of poor weather. Bundle up, men—Mother Carey is plucking her chickens, so we're in for another rough day on the trail.

get enough nerve up (to do something)

and get enough courage up (to do something); get enough guts up (to do something); get enough pluck up (to do something); get enough spunk up (to do something); get the nerve up (to do something); get the courage up (to do something); get the guts up (to do something); get the pluck up (to do something); get the spunk up (to do something)

Fig. to work up enough courage to do something. I hope I can get enough nerve up to ask her for her autograph. I wanted to do it, but I couldn't get up enough nerve. I thought he would never get up the courage to ask me for a date.

pluck at someone or something

to pull or pick at someone or something. Kelly plucked at Ed, picking off the burrs that had caught on his clothing. Kelly plucked at the strings of the guitar.

pluck something from someone or something

to pick, grab, or snatch something from someone. Sally plucked a chocolate from the box and popped it into her mouth. He stooped over and plucked a rose from the bush.

pluck something off (of) someone or something

and pluck something off

to pick something off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) She plucked the mosquito off his back before it could bite him. She plucked off the bud.

pluck something out of something and pluck something out

to snatch something out of something. She plucked the coin out of his hand and put it in her pocket. Reaching into the fountain, Jane plucked out the coin.

pluck up someone's courage

to bolster someone's, including one's own, courage. I hope you are able to pluck up your courage so that you can do what has to be done. Some good advice from a friend helped pluck up my courage.

pluck something out of the air

if you pluck a number out of the air, you say any number and not one that is the result of careful calculation That figure of eighty thousand pounds isn't something we've just plucked out of the air. We've done a detailed costing of the project.

pluck up one's courage

Also, screw up one's courage. Force oneself to overcome fear or timidity, as in He was really afraid of slipping on the ice, but he plucked up his courage and ventured down the driveway , or I screwed up my courage and dove off the high board. The first term uses pluck in the sense of "make a forcible effort"; Shakespeare put it as "Pluck up thy spirits" ( The Taming of the Shrew, 4:3). The variant derives from the use of screw to mean "force or strain by means of a screw."

pluck

and plug

n. wine; cheap wine. (Originally black.) He buys pluck by the box, yes the box! You spilled your plug all over my car seat!

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Diogo	DYAW-goo (Portuguese), JYAW-goo (Brazilian Portuguese)	Portuguese
Raya	-	Bulgarian
Yoana	-	Bulgarian
Moana	-	Maori, Hawaiian
Tutankhamon	too-tahng-KAH-mən (English)	Ancient Egyptian
Arsenius	-	Ancient Greek (Latinized)