screw your courage to the sticking place

The phrase "screw your courage to the sticking place" is derived from William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In Act 1, Scene 7, Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to carry out their plans to commit regicide (killing the king) by telling him to "Screw your courage to the sticking place and we'll not fail." The phrase essentially means to gather one's courage, control one's fear or hesitation, and firmly fix it in place. It implies mustering up the necessary bravery and resolve to confront a challenging or daunting task, without allowing any doubts or apprehensions to hinder one's actions. It emphasizes the importance of mustering up one's courage and determination to tackle difficult endeavors.