Keep Your Chin Up (Origin)

by Craig Shrives

What Is the Origin of the Saying "Keep Your Chin Up"?

The term "keep your chin up" means to remain joyful in a tough situation.

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Keep Your Chin Up (Origin)

Examples of Use:

  • Keep your chin up and stay positive even during challenging times; better days will come.
  • When faced with adversity, it's important to keep your chin up and maintain a resilient attitude.
  • Keep your chin up and believe in yourself; you have the strength to overcome any obstacles that come your way.
  • In moments of doubt or disappointment, remember to keep your chin up and stay determined to achieve your goals.
  • Even when life gets tough, keep your chin up and face challenges with courage and optimism.
"Keep your chin up" are words of encouragement that have been in use since the 1860s. The term, however, has only been in popular use since the 1940s (evidence), presumably because it was used a lot during World War II. Grammatically speaking, "keep your chin up" is an imperative sentence. It instructs a person to fight any low feelings that might cause them to droop their heads.

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See Also

What are idioms? What is figurative language? A list of common grammar errors A list of easily confused words A list of sayings and proverbs