English Idiom – Stiff upper lip or Keep a stiff upper lip.
To not show your emotions when you are upset. To keep your emotions hidden or bottled up. Do not let unpleasant things upset you. To show courage in the face of adversity.
The phrase stiff upper lip is believed to have originated in the Victorian era, when it was considered a sign of good breeding and social status to remain stoic and unemotional in the face of adversity. Having a trembling upper lip could be seen as a sign of weakness.
This is a British English idiom. It is a British stereotype that British people have a stiff upper lip – do not show their emotions – in the face of adversity. This stereotype is a bit of a cliché (a trite, stereotypical or overused expression or idea), as today’s Brits are probably just as likely to show their emotions as anyone else!
This idiom is sometimes confused with poker face — both are about hiding how you feel, but the emphasis is different. A stiff upper lip is about staying outwardly calm and composed through hardship or bad news, often over a stretch of time, without falling apart. A poker face is narrower: giving nothing away in one specific moment, so nobody can read your reaction or guess what you’re thinking.
Idioms Featuring Lips:
- Bite your lips – To refrain from saying something or showing a reaction to something that has made you angry.
- Button your lip – A slightly impolite way to tell someone to be quiet.
- Don’t give me any of your lip – This expression is used to tell someone to stop talking back or stop being rude about you.
- My lips are sealed – This expression is used when you promise to keep a secret.
- Read my lips – A slightly rude way to tell someone to listen to you.
- Tight lipped – To not reveal information or to be secretive.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- If somebody is visibly upset or emotional about something.
- When a person is crying and you want them to stop.
- If you are trying to convince someone to stay brave after an accident or injury.
Example:
- \u201cIt’s only a game of football. Nobody wants to see you crying, please try to keep a stiff upper lip!\u201d
In the News
Spotted in the newsHas Prince Harry Put An End To The Stiff Upper Lip?graziadaily.co.ukWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means staying calm and not showing your emotions, especially when facing something difficult or upsetting — keeping your feelings hidden rather than letting them show.
It’s believed to have originated in the Victorian era, when remaining stoic and unemotional in the face of adversity was seen as a sign of good breeding and social status.
A stiff upper lip is about staying outwardly calm through hardship or bad news, often over a stretch of time. A poker face is narrower — giving nothing away in one specific moment, so nobody can read your reaction.
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