pluck up vs gain vs get

Question

What's the difference between the following sentences:

1 He finally plucked up enough courage to ask her to marry him.

2 He finally gained enough courage to ask her to marry him.

3 He finally got enough courage to ask her to marry him.

Old Brixtonian · Accepted Answer

"Pluck up courage" is indeed a very common expression in the UK. According to Etymonline To pluck up "summon up" (courage, heart, etc.) is from c. 1300.
It suggests he made some effort. He steeled himself, or at least pulled himself together. Perhaps "he psyched himself up [to do something]" is a more recent equivalent.
In your other two sentences, whether he finally gained enough courage or got enough courage, he doesn't seem to have made any effort. Perhaps he just waited, or had a stiff drink.
By the way, I've never heard "plucked up enough courage". The expression is usually unmodified.

jwh20 · Answer

The term "plucked up", which I don't ever recall hearing as a native US English speaker, may be a regional saying or more common in the UK or another non-US English dialect.  But it does appear in the online dictionary at:
Merriam Webster
as:

to assume an appearance of : bring to the fore : SUMMON
plucked his nerve up to demand an explanation
to eradicate by or as if by tearing up by the roots

Versions 2 and 3 are much more common and both would be more likely to be used in ordinary conversation.

pluck up vs gain vs get

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