to keep one's chin up

Examples

• All

• Thanks for reading, and keep your chin up!

  Blog text (2)

• It's just hard to keep your chin up in this recession.

  Blog text (29)

• Yeah, he told me to keep my chin up.

  The Front Runner (2018)

• Hey, hey, keep your chin up, okay?

  Hall Pass (2011)

• Always keep your chin up.

  Let Him Have It (1991)

• Hey, keep your chin up, huh?

  The Kiss (1988)

• Love you both, keep your chin up.

  Blog text (17)

• Keep your chin up and keep on fighting the fight.

  Blog text (3)

• Keep your chin up, and it will get better.

  Blog text (12)

• You've never seen such disappointment... but he's trying to keep his chin up for Jim's sake.

  Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

B

to be positive

vsto keep one's chin up

34 3.2

To have a hopeful, confident attitude in hard times

focuses on staying optimistic during difficulty rather than general positivity

C

chin up

vsto keep one's chin up

• Informal

15 7.1

Stay positive and keep going when things are difficult

focuses on remaining cheerful rather than being a spoken command

B

to buck up

vsto keep one's chin up

• Informal

14 6.3

To become or make someone more cheerful and confident

refers to boosting mood actively rather than steady personal optimism

T

to take heart

vsto keep one's chin up

11 4.5

Feel more hopeful and confident when facing trouble

describes sustained optimism rather than a single moment of encouragement

H

head held high

vsto keep one's chin up

9 4.6

Showing pride and confidence when facing difficulty

is about keeping a hopeful cheerful attitude rather than showing proud confidence

L

to lift one's spirits

vsto keep one's chin up

8 3.9

To make someone feel happier

is about staying optimistic yourself rather than being cheered by others

B

to bear up

vsto keep one's chin up

5 4.4

To stay strong and positive when facing hard times

focuses on cheerfulness in hard times rather than on courage or strength

H

to hold one's head high

vsto keep one's chin up

• Informal

4 4.4

Act proudly and confidently, not ashamed

focuses on staying optimistic rather than acting proud or unashamed

L

to lift someone's spirits

vsto keep one's chin up

1 3.9

To make someone feel happier when they are sad

focuses on remaining cheerful oneself rather than being cheered by others

K

to keep someone's pecker up

vsto keep one's chin up

• Archaic

9.9

Stay cheerful and hopeful during hard times

is the same idea expressed with a different phrase

E

to embrace positivity

vsto keep one's chin up

4.1

To accept and actively choose a positive way of thinking

focuses on staying optimistic in hard times rather than promoting positive thinking

Antonyms

G

to give up

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

D

to despair

44 4.1

To lose all hope

How Optimistic

cheerful

111 1.0

to keep one's chin up

• Informal

8 6.5

hopeful

189 1.8

discouraged

7 3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology