When you're advised to "cover the brake" while driving a manual transmission vehicle, it means:

• You should hover your foot over the brake or between the brake and gas pedals
  Explanation:

  "Cover the brake means taking your foot off the accelerator pedal and hovering it over the brake pedal without touching it, preparing to push the brake pedal if a hazard should arise."
• You should keep the brake pedal fully pressed
• You should use the brake intermittently
• You should apply sudden pressure on the brake pedal