What it means
Liquid courage is that rented bravery you get from a drink or two, when the booze starts whispering, go on then, text them, sing the song, make the speech. It's usually said with a wink because everyone knows the confidence is real enough in the moment, even if it's running on lager fumes and bad ideas.
Usage examples
"She needed a bit of liquid courage before stepping onto the stage."
"A shot of liquid courage and he finally walked over to introduce himself."
"My brother needed three pints of liquid courage before he proposed to his now-wife at the riverside pub in Newcastle, the ring was in his coat pocket the whole time, and the bartender pretended not to notice the trembling hands at the counter."
"The works Christmas party always runs on liquid courage by the second hour, the quiet accountant from the second floor takes the microphone for Sweet Caroline, and Monday morning rumours about who hugged whom keep the office printer busy for three days."
"Two margaritas in and suddenly he's got enough liquid courage to DM his ex at half eleven."
Where it comes from
Recorded in American English in the early 1900s, this phrase grew from the older idea of Dutch courage, meaning bravery stirred up by alcohol. Liquid courage kept the same tipsy nerve but gave it a cleaner, jokier label, which helped it spread fast in bar chat, parties, and everyday banter.
Other ways to say it
This expression also appears in
