"Muster up" is a phrasal verb meaning to gather or summon the courage or energy to do something. It is pronounced as /ˈmʌstər ʌp/ , with stress on the first syllable. The first word, "muster," is spelled with a 'u' after the 'm' and an 'e' after the 's' to indicate the pronunciation of /ʌ/. The second word, "up," is spelled as it sounds, with the 'u' pronounced as /ʌ/ and the 'p' as /p/. Together, this phrasal verb helps us understand how to describe summoning the necessary motivation or several people to have a mass gathering.
Muster up is a phrasal verb that has multiple meanings and is often used in informal speech. It can be used transitively or intransitively, followed by an object or by the preposition "up."
One common meaning of muster up is to gather or collect something, typically courage, strength, or determination. In this sense, it implies a person making a conscious effort to summon or generate something from within themselves. For example, "She had to muster up the courage to ask for a raise" suggests that she needed to gather her bravery to initiate the request.
Another usage of muster up is to summon or call together a group of people, usually for a specific purpose, such as a meeting, event, or military formation. In this context, it emphasizes the act of gathering or assembling individuals. For instance, "They had to muster up a team of volunteers for the festival" indicates the process of organizing a group to help with the event.
Overall, muster up implies the act of summoning, generating, or collecting something, whether it is personal qualities like courage or a group of people for a particular task. It conveys the idea of a deliberate effort to gather or mobilize resources, either internally or externally.
The word "muster" in "muster up" can be traced back to the Middle English "mousteren" or "musteren", which meant to display or show. This Middle English term came from the Old French "monstrer" or "mostre", which also carried the same meaning. The Old French word, in turn, originated from the Latin "monstrare", which meant to show or exhibit.
The addition of "up" in "muster up" serves as an intensifier, emphasizing the act of gathering or summoning one's courage, strength, or resolve. The phrase "muster up" is commonly used to describe the action of collecting or summoning something, particularly when it requires effort, determination, or bravery.