Idiom B1 Informal

Keep your chin up

To stay positive and remain hopeful during a difficult situation

Meaning

Keep your chin up — To stay positive, brave, and hopeful during a difficult or discouraging time. It is usually said to encourage someone who is going through a hard situation.

Origin & History

The expression dates from the early 1900s in American English and is rooted in body language. A raised chin naturally signals confidence, courage, and resolve, while a lowered chin or drooping head suggests sadness, defeat, and dejection. Telling someone to keep their chin up therefore literally pictures the posture of staying strong.

From this physical image the phrase quickly became a standard way to offer encouragement. By the mid-20th century it was a common, gentle expression of support, used to urge people to remain hopeful and not let hard times get them down.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext
I know the results were disappointing, but keep your chin up — there will be other chances.Encouraging after a setback
She kept her chin up throughout the long illness and never lost hope.Staying brave in hardship
Keep your chin up; the interview went better than you think.Reassuring a friend
Even after losing the match, the team kept their chins up and trained harder.Resilience after defeat
It's been a tough week, but we're all keeping our chins up.Group encouragement
Chin up — you'll feel better once the worst is over.Short, supportive form

How to Use It

This idiom is informal and is mainly used to comfort or encourage someone facing difficulty. It often appears as a direct instruction, such as keep your chin up, or in the short form chin up. You can also describe how a person behaves with keep one's chin up, as in she kept her chin up. Reserve it for friendly, supportive contexts rather than formal writing, where 'stay positive' is a better fit.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

Keep the chin up, everything will be fine.

Keep your chin up, everything will be fine. — Use a possessive such as 'your', not 'the'.

Keep your chins up, you can do this.

Keep your chin up, you can do this. — The noun stays singular, even when addressing one person.

She kept her chin high during the crisis.

She kept her chin up during the crisis. — The fixed idiom is 'up', not 'high'.

Similar Idioms

Hang in there Keep your spirits up Look on the bright side Stay strong All Idioms →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Keep your chin up" mean?
"Keep your chin up" means to stay positive and remain brave or hopeful during a difficult or discouraging situation. It is usually said to encourage someone who is going through a hard time.
Where does the idiom "Keep your chin up" come from?
The phrase dates from the early 1900s in American English. It draws on body language: a raised chin signals confidence and resolve, while a lowered chin or drooping head suggests defeat and dejection. Keeping the chin up therefore came to mean staying brave and hopeful.
Can you give an example of "Keep your chin up" in a sentence?
Here is an example: "I know the results were disappointing, but keep your chin up — there will be other chances." — used to encourage someone facing a setback.
Is "Keep your chin up" formal or informal?
It is informal. The idiom is common in everyday conversation and friendly, supportive messages. It is best avoided in formal or academic writing, where phrases such as 'stay positive' or 'remain optimistic' are more appropriate.
What CEFR level is "Keep your chin up"?
This idiom is typically taught at B1 level. It is an intermediate expression that appears frequently in spoken English and informal writing, especially when offering encouragement.
What are common mistakes with "Keep your chin up"?
A common mistake is saying 'keep your chins up' or 'keep the chin up'. The fixed form uses the singular 'chin' with a possessive such as 'your'. For example: Keep the chin up is incorrect. The correct form is: Keep your chin up.
What idioms are similar to "Keep your chin up"?
Similar idioms include: Hang in there, Keep your spirits up, Look on the bright side, Stay strong. These share the idea of staying positive and hopeful during a hard time.
How do I practise idioms like "Keep your chin up"?
LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles exercises are great for practising English idioms. Try writing your own example sentences using the idiom in context, and listen for it in films, podcasts, and conversations.
Can "Keep your chin up" be used in writing?
Yes, in informal writing such as messages, cards, and friendly emails where you want to encourage someone. Avoid it in formal academic writing unless you are intentionally quoting or discussing the idiom itself. In supportive, conversational writing it is a natural choice.
Does "Keep your chin up" have the same meaning in British and American English?
Yes, "Keep your chin up" is understood in both British and American English with the same meaning: to stay positive during a difficult situation. The idiom is widely recognised across all major varieties of English.