man down

man (“to brace (oneself), to fortify or steel (oneself) in a manly way; to supply (something) with staff or crew; to accustom (a hawk or other bird) to the presence of men”) + down

• "Ministers and a good many of their supporters worked in relays, and had so manned down the feeble and numerically small Opposition till we had not strength nor mental energy enough to resist."
• "A famous champion, he; super-expert in the art of "manning down" his opponent, and sometimes in the heat of battle glowing with such an ardour of excitement that he would make wide jumps, quite against every rule, and sweep off pieces wholesale."
• "Normally, I'd psych myself out of approaching her. I looked at her, trying to find something that reinforced my manning down."

• man up