To gird means to prepare yourself mentally or physically for something difficult or challenging. When you gird yourself for a tough conversation, you're gathering your courage and getting ready to face it. The phrase gird your loins (an old-fashioned expression from when people wore robes) means the same thing: prepare for action or hardship.

The word originally meant to put on a belt or wrap something around your waist, which made sense when people needed to tie up long robes before working or fighting. A knight might gird himself with armor and weapons before battle. Over time, the meaning expanded beyond physical preparation to include mental and emotional readiness.

You might gird yourself before taking a difficult test, starting a challenging project, or having a serious talk with a friend. It suggests more than casual preparation: you're bracing yourself, steeling your nerves, and making sure you're as ready as you can be for what's coming. When you gird yourself, you're acknowledging that something hard lies ahead, but you're facing it anyway.