put on a brave face
Mask inner fear
To put on a brave face is to appear calm, cheerful, or confident despite feeling anxious, sad, or discouraged: She put on a brave face for the children, though she was terrified.
The phrase suggests concealing inner turmoil to reassure others or maintain composure in difficult circumstances.
- grin and bear itEndure hardship without complaint
- whistle in the darkFake bravery under fear
- disguiseIdentity-concealing alteration
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- impression managementControlling perceived identity
suppression · pretense · put on an act · masking · compartmentalization · composure · self-presentation · determination · facade · stiff upper lip · chin up · keep it together · fortitude · rationalization · role-playing · acceptance · denial · reframing
- appearance idiomsall dolled up, dolled up, done up, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines
- courageresilience, fearlessness, boldness, courage, valor
put on a brave facewear one's heart on one's sleeve
Express feelings openly, visibly
bare one's soul · let it all out · show one's true colors · let it all hang out · pour one's heart out
put on a brave facebreak down
Fail mechanically or emotionally
fall apart · burst into tears · have a meltdown · go to pieces · crumble
put on a brave facegive up
Stop attempting something
throw in the towel · admit defeat · succumb · cave in · let oneself go
putting, brave, braver, bravest, bravely, bravery, bravado, face, faces