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to steel

to steel

19 7.0
To make yourself ready to face something difficult
  • verb
  • /stiːl/
: armarse de valor
  • I steeled myself for this result, but now that it's come...

So that is also something that you need to be steeled for going into it.

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Examples

  • Early in 1567, he privately abandoned the attempt at compromise and steeled himself for the coming conflict.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Let's load these munitions into the Armadillo and steel ourselves for combat.

  • So you have to sort of steel yourself for that.

  • I can judge their characters by how quickly they manage to steel themselves for a second try.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Someone please tell me how to steel myself against this profession I have chosen.

    Blog text (5)
  • Let's take a look at it," Artus said, steeling himself for the sight.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • All the time I'm steeling myself for what I've got to say to my bosses.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • But I'm glad I did, because once I steeled myself for how awful people are, I noticed an interesting but troubling trend.

  • Mandy looked uncertain, and Silas steeled himself for whatever she was about to say.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Before the meeting, he had to steel himself for the tough questions the board might ask.

Synonyms

to nerve
vsto steel
1 6.6

To make yourself ready to do something difficult

is the same meaning but uses a different word
to steel oneself
vsto steel
7.6

To prepare yourself to face something unpleasant or difficult

is done with more emphasis on determination and courage
7.5

To prepare yourself mentally for something difficult or unpleasant

is broader stressing mental readiness with resolve
7.4

Get ready in your mind to face something unpleasant

is about facing difficulty with courage rather than mere planning

Antonyms

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

to shrink back
  • Informal
4 4.7

Move away because you are afraid or disgusted

Idioms

nerves of steel
  • Informal
6 5.8

The ability to stay calm and brave in dangerous or difficult situations

Phrasal Verbs

to anneal the steel
  • Specialized
7.2

Heat then cool steel to make it less brittle and easier to shape

To prepare yourself to face something unpleasant or difficult

Get ready in your mind to face something unpleasant

To prepare yourself mentally for something difficult or unpleasant

Compounds

stainless steel
  • Specialized
42 2.8

A metal that does not rust or stain

21 3.3

A factory that makes steel from raw materials

9 3.0

A flat piece of steel used to make or strengthen buildings and machines

Companies and factories that make steel and things from steel

7 3.0

A pad of thin metal strands used to clean and smooth surfaces

5 3.7

A factory where steel is made from iron and other materials

A business that makes and sells steel

4 4.9

A musical instrument with metal strings played by sliding a steel bar to make a smooth singing sound

carbon steel
  • Specialized
3 3.5

A strong, hard metal made by adding carbon to iron for tools and knives

3 3.9

A Caribbean musical instrument made from an oil barrel that you hit to make different notes

3 7.5

A metal device with strong springs and sharp jaws that catches animals

2 3.5

A dark grey color with a slight blue or purple tone

hard steel
  • Specialized
2 4.6

Steel with more carbon that is very strong and not easy to bend, often used for tools and blades

steel trap
  • Informal
2 7.3

A very quick, sharp mind that notices things and remembers details

A factory where workers make steel from iron and other materials

Making steel from iron in large factories

1 3.5

A blue color with a grey tone like a metal plate

structural steel
  • Specialized
1 3.7

Strong metal formed into beams and other shapes to support buildings

1 4.1

Covered in steel to make it strong and safe

1 3.9

A group of musicians who play steel pans made from oil drums

Damascus steel
  • Specialized
1 8.5

A strong, hard steel with wavy patterns often used for sword blades

alloy steel
  • Specialized
1 4.1

Steel that has other metals added to make it stronger and resist rust

tungsten steel
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A very hard metal blend that resists heat and is used for cutting tools

A strong determination not to give up when things are hard

case-hardened steel
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Steel with a very hard surface and a softer inside to resist wear

chromium steel
  • Specialized
1 5.0

Steel that contains chromium and resists rust

high-speed steel
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A very hard metal used for cutting tools that stays hard when hot

tool steel
  • Specialized
1 5.5

Hard strong steel used to make blades and parts that stay sharp

low-carbon steel
  • Specialized
1 3.8

Steel with little carbon that is soft and easy to shape and weld

A small cleaning tool of thin metal threads used to remove dirt or smooth surfaces

A bridge built of steel with its main support shaped like an arch

mild steel
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A kind of metal with little carbon that is soft and easy to shape

nickel steel
  • Specialized
1 4.7

Metal made by adding nickel to steel so it resists rust and is very strong

molybdenum steel
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Very hard, strong steel used for tools and machine parts that resists wear

crucible steel
  • Specialized
1 8.6

High-quality steel made by melting iron with charcoal in a small metal pot so the metal becomes pure and strong

steel engraving
  • Specialized
1 6.1

The process of cutting a design into a steel plate to make prints

A picture printed from a steel plate with a design cut into it

chisel steel
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A hard strong metal used to make chisels and other cutting tools

drill steel
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A strong metal used to make rods or bits for rock drills and dowels

vanadium steel
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A strong steel that has vanadium added to make it harder and more heat resistant

medium steel
  • Specialized
1 5.7

A type of steel that is not very soft or very hard used when strength and flexibility are needed

manganese steel
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A very hard steel with 10 to 14 percent manganese that resists wear and shock

chrome-nickel steel
  • Specialized
5.5

A strong steel alloy with chromium and nickel that resists rust and stays flexible at different temperatures

chrome-tungsten steel
  • Specialized
7.0

A strong metal made with chromium and tungsten that resists heat and wear

Damask steel
  • Specialized
9.9

Hard steel with a wavy pattern used to make strong, decorated sword blades

austenitic steel
  • Specialized
7.3

A type of steel that does not rust easily and is not magnetic, used for medical instruments and cooking pots

7.5

Steel that contains 10–14% manganese and stands up to wear and strong impacts

eutectoid steel
  • Specialized
8.1

A type of steel that contains about 0.9% carbon and forms a fine, layered structure when it cools

hot-work steel
  • Specialized
6.5

A type of metal that stays hard at high temperatures used to make cutting tools like drills

hyper-eutectoid steel
  • Specialized
9.5

A kind of steel with more than 0.9% carbon that has extra hard parts and resists wear

hypo-eutectoid steel
  • Specialized
8.9

A type of steel with less than 0.9% carbon that has both softer and harder parts

quenched steel
  • Specialized
6.9

Steel that people quickly cool in water or oil to make it hard

oil-hardened steel
  • Specialized
6.3

A type of steel cooled quickly in oil so it becomes very hard and does not wear away easily

soft-cast steel
  • Specialized
5.1

Steel with very little carbon that is easy to shape

wolfram steel
  • Specialized
8.7

A very hard metal used for tools that contains tungsten and resists heat

How Determined

to toughen up
  • Informal
26 4.2
to steel
19 7.0
to prepare for
∞ 2.8

Surface Forms

steel infinitive
steeled past
steeled past participle
steeling present participle
steels third person singular

Etymology

To steel yourself comes from the idea of becoming like steel — to make your mind 'hard' and ready — so it now means preparing yourself with determination or courage.