What it means
A friendly bit of encouragement for when someone’s having a rough one. It’s basically saying: head up, shoulders back, don’t let the bad news bowl you over. People chuck it out with a cuppa, a pat on the arm, or sometimes as a quick brush-off. Tone does all the work, so listen for the warmth. It’s not a miracle cure, just a nudge to carry on.
Usage examples
"Keep your chin up, yeah? You’ve been dumped and your bus pass has vanished, but we’ll grab a chippy tea, have a moan, then crack on."
"Keep your chin up, the results aren't out yet and you reckoned the exam went alright."
"I know it's a rough week, but keep your chin up, payday's Friday and we'll sort it."
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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