be of good cheer

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseliteraryold-fashioned

   Used to tell someone not to be sad or worried, and to stay hopeful.

   Grammar: A fixed set phrase; keep the word order and use 'be' in the right form, as in 'we were of good cheer'.

   Patterns

   • be of good cheer
   • be of good cheer about something

   Be of good cheer — the worst of the storm has passed.

   She told the children to be of good cheer, because their father would soon be home.

   Though the team had lost, the captain was of good cheer about the next match.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseliterary

   To be happy and full of hope in a difficult situation.

   Grammar: Here it describes a person's state rather than giving an order; it often follows 'be' or 'remain'.

   Patterns

   • be of good cheer
   • remain of good cheer

   The whole village remained of good cheer despite the poor harvest.

   He was of good cheer even on the coldest mornings of the journey.

Common combinations

be of good cheer

The coach urged the players to be of good cheer after the defeat.

remain of good cheer

They remained of good cheer throughout the long wait.

tell someone to be of good cheer

The old priest told the mourners to be of good cheer.

Synonyms and how they differ

cheer up

Much more informal and used as a direct command or encouragement in everyday speech.

take heart

A slightly more literary way to say 'become hopeful', often followed by 'from' or 'at'.

be encouraged

A plainer, more neutral phrase; it states the feeling without the old-fashioned warmth.

Opposites

Word family

cheer noun

A feeling of happiness and hope, or a shout of support.

cheerful adjective

Happy and positive in a calm, steady way.

cheerfully adverb

In a happy, positive way.

Commonly confused: be of good cheer or be in good cheer?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “be of good cheer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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