( literary ) to prepare for sth difficult, especially a fight, contest, etc.
GIRD (YOURSELF / SB / STH) (UP) FOR STH
Meaning of GIRD (YOURSELF / SB / STH) (UP) FOR STH in English
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне. 2005