idiom · informal
keep one's chin up
/kiːp wʌnz tʃɪn ʌp/keep·one's·CHIN·up
speaking
to remain brave and optimistic in a difficult situation
Examples
“Keep your chin up — things will get better next semester.”
“After losing the match, the coach told the players to keep their chins up.”
“She tried to keep her chin up despite the bad news.”
Band 8 sentence
“After a string of rejections, she kept her chin up and continued applying until she found a suitable position.”
Collocations
- keep your chin up in difficult times
- keep one's chin up despite
- keep their chins up
Word family
keep one's chin up idiom (base)keeps his chin up idiom (3rd sg)kept her chin up idiom (past)
Common mistakes
Keep your chin high.→Keep your chin up.
Keep one's head up when you are sad.→Keep one's chin up when you are sad.
Say it for a higher band
5stay positive→6stay strong→7+keep one's chin up
Synonyms
stay positive
Easily confused
keep your head up
“Keep your head up — you did your best.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Emotions
Learn it with its set