не хватило смелости

didn't have the courage

→ не

phrase Uncommon #23,040

didn't have the courage Literally means “there wasn't enough courage.” The form can change with tense, such as не хватит смелости (“won't have the courage”) and не хватает смелости (“doesn't have the courage”).

RU: Мне не хватило смелости попросить о помощи.

EN: I didn't have the courage to ask for help.

У Тома не хватило смелости сказать Мэри правду.

Tom didn't have the courage to tell Mary the truth.

Они этого и хотели, но не хватило смелости сказать.

That’s exactly what they wanted, but they didn’t have the courage to say it.

— Рука Бога (2021)

Моему брату не хватило смелости переплыть реку.

My brother didn't have the courage to swim across the river.

Ей не хватило смелости сказать ему правду.

She didn’t have the courage to tell him the truth.

Мне не хватило смелости это сделать.

I didn't have the courage to do it.

Том хотел пригласить Мэри на свидание, но у него не хватило смелости на это.

Tom wanted to ask Mary out, but he didn't have the courage to do it.

У меня не хватило смелости ей сказать.

I didn't have the courage to tell her.