Would you like to tell someone that they should stay in good spirits, or that they should keep thinking good thoughts for the future? 'Keep your chin up' is a common English phrase that is used to cheer someone up or said as encouragement. This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and common use of the saying.
Meaning
The saying 'keep your chin up' is a common figurative saying that is mostly used in the English language, through translated to some other languages as a direct phrase.
If someone says that you should 'keep your chin up' then the saying means that you should remain positive, or stay in good spirits.
The phrase can be said either about someone or to someone as a third-party reference.
Someone can 'keep their chin up' when the speaker is referring to a third-party in conversation.
The phrase 'keep your chin up' is most common as a response or statement of encouragement. The context of the phrase is usually clear from the rest of the discussion or what the other speaker has said.
It's not common to use the idiom in the denial form, as saying 'don't keep your chin up' would be bad advice and incorrect use of the saying.
Example Usage
“You shouldn't be sad that you dad didn't show up to any of your baseball games when you were younger. Now that you're older, you're a famous baseball star and he's dead. Keep your chin up.”
“Keep your chin up at the event tomorrow: you're going to do absolutely great and show everyone how it's done.”
“Keep your chin up, we can just ask for a refund so that you can get another pizza that doesn't have pineapple on it.”
“If you don't keep your chin up, you're never going to survive the next six months of your life. Just keep track of your goals, and you'll get there.”
Origin
According to most online language resources, the origin of the phrase 'to keep your chin up' is likely to have come from the early 19th century.
First use of the phrase is difficult to find, and most language resources do not agree exactly where the saying might have been used first. The 19th century shows early use of the saying in media like newspapers and bulletins.
It is possible that the saying could have started as an advertising slogan, for which the original ads have become obscured over time.
Use of the phrase continued into modern time, and the saying 'keep your chin up' would keep the same meaning from the earlier use of the phrase to the current age.
The website Urban Dictionary lists the phrase from 2006.
Phrases Similar to Keep Your Chin Up
- Stay good
- Stay positive
Phrases Opposite to Keep Your Chin Up
- N/a
What is the Correct Saying?
- Keep your chin up
- Keeping your chin up
Ways People May Say Keep Your Chin Up Incorrectly
There are several ways in which someone can use the phrase 'keep your chin up' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the meaning of the phrase.
When someone says 'keep your chin up' the phrase is not literal, but might be misunderstood by someone who is not familiar with the common figurative meaning of the saying.
The phrase is not common in the denial form, and 'don't keep your chin up' or 'not keeping your chin up' would not render valid uses of the idiom.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Keep Your Chin Up
There are several ways in which someone can use the phrase 'keep your chin up' in the correct way.
Someone can use the phrase 'keep your chin up' as a phrase or encouragement, or as a positive response to something negative that another speaker has said or experienced.
Someone can also say 'to keep your chin up' in conversation, and might say it as either a direct reference to someone – or to a third-party.