stiff upper lip

Meaning

1. 1phraseidiom

   The ability to stay calm and not show feelings when facing pain, difficulty, or disappointment.

   Grammar: Used as a singular noun phrase, often with 'keep' or 'have': 'keep a stiff upper lip'. It is not used in the plural.

   Patterns

   • keep a stiff upper lip
   • have a stiff upper lip
   • show a stiff upper lip

   Even after losing the final, the team kept a stiff upper lip and thanked their fans.

   British people are often stereotyped as having a stiff upper lip, hiding their emotions in public.

   She kept a stiff upper lip during the funeral, but cried when she got home.

Common combinations

keep a stiff upper lip

He kept a stiff upper lip when he heard the bad news.

have a stiff upper lip

My grandmother always had a stiff upper lip about her health problems.

a stiff upper lip attitude

The school encouraged a stiff upper lip attitude among its students.

maintain a stiff upper lip

She maintained a stiff upper lip throughout the trial.

Synonyms and how they differ

composure

A calm and controlled state; 'stiff upper lip' is more idiomatic and specifically suggests not showing emotions.

stoicism

A formal word for enduring pain without complaint; 'stiff upper lip' is informal and often associated with British culture.

Practice

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