There came an instant at which both men braced themselves.

The young men then square their shoulders and step into the forest, bracing themselves for combat.

The man braced against him, trying to orient the knife.

The larger man, holding the rope firmly with both hands, braced himself.

I grabbed for one arm as Lee caught the other, but the old man braced himself and refused to move.

The men blocked the passage and braced themselves for the attack.

The men braced for me to try fighting; I stayed put.

The men braced for an attack, but these weren't guards.

The man braced his shoulder as though against an expected recoil.

Each man braced himself in the truck bed and scowled down.