The term 'brace oneself' is an idiom that means to prepare for something difficult or unpleasant. It can be interpreted literally, as in preparing oneself with a brace or support, or figuratively, as in steeling oneself emotionally. The crossword solutions for this term are STEEL (5 letters), GIRD (4 letters), and STIFFEN (7 letters). These words all suggest the idea of strengthening oneself in order to prepare for a challenge. STEEL is a strong metal alloy, GIRD suggests the idea of putting on armor, and STIFFEN implies becoming more rigid and unyielding. Together, these words provide a vivid image of what it means to brace oneself.