Cool MateCourage is the best defence vs Determination
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Courage is the best defence
Top 3,000 (common)
Determination
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Determination
| Courage is the best defence | Determination | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈkʌrɪdʒ ɪz ðə bɛst dɪˈfɛns//🇺🇸 //ˈkɜrdʒ ɪz ðə bɛst dɪˈfɛns// | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˌtɜːrmɪˈneɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | Courage helps protect you in difficult situations. | The quality of being determined to do something. |
| Example | Courage is the best defence against the fears that hold us back. | Her determination to succeed helped her overcome all obstacles. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | show courage, face challenges, best defence, require courage, act with courage | dogged, fierce, great, be full of, have, demonstrate, with determination, determination to succeed, win, etc., age, sex, accurate |
| Antonyms | - | indecision, weakness, hesitation |
| Common mistakes | Mixing up 'defence' with 'defense' in US English., Forgetting to capitalize 'Courage' when starting sentences., Translating directly into other languages without considering context. | Confusing with 'determined' which describes someone with determination., Using in contexts that require more specific terms like 'resolve' or 'tenacity'. |
| Usage notes | This phrase is often used to suggest that being brave is essential in facing challenges. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts but more common in motivational settings. | Use 'determination' in both formal and casual contexts to describe strong will or persistence. It's less common in very informal conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Courage is the best defence vs Determination
What's the difference between Courage is the best defence and Determination?
Courage is the best defence: Courage helps protect you in difficult situations. Determination: The quality of being determined to do something.
Which is more common: Courage is the best defence and Determination?
Determination is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Courage is the best defence: Courage is the best defence against the fears that hold us back. Determination: Her determination to succeed helped her overcome all obstacles.
Can I use Courage is the best defence and Determination interchangeably?
Not always. Courage is the best defence and Determination are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.