gird your loins

gird
v. gird·ed or girt (gûrt), gird·ing, girds
v.tr.

1. 1. To encircle with a belt or band.
   2. To fasten or secure (clothing, for example) with a belt or band.
   3. To surround. See Synonyms at surround.
2. To equip or endow.
3. To prepare (oneself) for action.

v.intr.

To prepare for action: "Men still spoke of peace but girded more sternly for war" (W. Bruce Lincoln).

Idiom: gird (up) (one's) loins

To summon up one's inner resources in preparation for action.

[Middle English girden, from Old English gyrdan; see gher-1 in Indo-European roots.]

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