Brace yourself for the worst

[antobbo]

Hi peeps, I wonder if this "Brace yourself for the worst" is a commonly used expression among British native speakers please? It sounds correct to me
thanks

 

[sound shift]

It is not a set expression ("brace yourself for" does not have to be followed by "the worst"), but it makes sense and is grammatically sound.

 

[JustKate]

It's definitely used in AmE. I'm pretty sure it's in BE, too, but we'll see, won't we?

 

[JustKate]

It is not a set expression ("brace yourself for" does not have to be followed by "the worst"), but it makes sense and is grammatically sound.

I agree that "brace yourself for" doesn't have to be followed by "the worst," but I think it still qualifies as a set expression. It's well known enough in AmE that it's often shortened to simply "Brace yourself," with the "for the worst" part assumed.

 

[Beryl from Northallerton]

I suppose it could work. I would expect to see 'brace yourself for the worst of [X]'.

 

[e2efour]

It is a common expression in BE, but not as common as "Prepare for the worst".

 

[Loob]

Hello antobbo

Can you tell us how you're thinking of using "Brace yourself for the worst"? In other words, what's the context in which you want to use it?

 

[antobbo]

thanks guys, the context is somebody that has a bad feeling about something that is about to happen so he braces himself for the worst. But if it isn#t as common as Prepare for the worst, then I will use that

 

[Loob]

I suspect that "he braces himself for the worst" would be better than "he prepares for the worst" in your context, antobbo. It's more graphic.

 

[antobbo]

ah ok, thanks, I will use that then thanks