to prepare yourself physically or mentally for something unpleasant
Boris braced himself as the car hit the wall.
As the final exams approached, she had to brace herself for long hours of studying and sleepless nights.
He knew he had to brace himself for the difficult conversation with his boss about the upcoming layoffs.
The doctor delivered the challenging diagnosis, and she had to brace herself for a tough battle ahead.
The team knew they had to brace for a tough competition, so they trained harder and strategized to improve their chances of winning.
Facing the harsh criticism from the audience, the actor had to brace himself and remain composed during the press conference.
