Historical clue formulations

• Braced for impact — 2024-03-29
• Tightened (up) — 2021-02-19
• Flinched, e.g. — 2017-04-14
• Prepared for impact — 2016-11-05
• Tightened up — 2012-05-15
• Tightened — 2011-05-02
• Showed anxiety — 2007-06-22
• Stiffened — 2006-12-22
• Made tight, as muscles — 2005-07-05
• Got tight — 2005-03-03
• Pulled tight — 2004-08-20
• Got uptight — 2003-12-09
• Got uptight — 2002-11-25
• Became strained — 2001-09-11
• Got tight — 2001-09-02
• Prepared for a blow — 1996-11-10
• Made taut — 1995-04-30
• Prepared for a wallop — 1994-11-19