She tried to 'put on/up a brave face/front' [=she tried to appear brave or calm] despite the pain of the injury.
The company was slow to enter the 'brave new world' of computer technology.
I had to 'brave the elements' [=go out in bad weather] to get to work.
(..) Yes, love. Don't you disapprove of me for what I've done? No. I wish I'd done the same. But no one asked me. Well, I wouldn't have been brave enough. Stiva, you know, he doesn't change. Like all men, I suppose. I had an inspiration. Why do we have to wait here? (..)2012 Anna Karenina