stiff upper lip
Unshaken emotional resolve
A stiff upper lip is composure in the face of adversity—the refusal to show emotion or complaint when things go badly.
The phrase evokes someone keeping their face rigid rather than letting it quiver or tremble.
Long associated with British stoicism: He maintained a stiff upper lip throughout the funeral.
The quality is sometimes admired as fortitude, sometimes criticized as emotional repression.
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- grin and bear itEndure hardship without complaint
- understatementIntentional diminishment for effect
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
steady · sang-froid · cool head · temperateness · composure · poker face · resolve · unflinching · self-restraint · uncomplaining · tight-lippedness · determination · imperturbable · British reserve · emotional restraint · dry humor · bravado · public decorum
- Britishnesstea, London, BBC, Big Ben, royal family
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
- body idiomsheart of gold, heart of stone, cold heart, warm heart, soft heart
- British slangblag, bloke, bodge, blagger, bobby
- Commonwealth CultureCommonwealth Games, parliamentary system, Union Jack, royal family, BBC
- emotional maskingmasking, suppression, repression, hiding, bottling up
stiff upper lipwearing one's heart on one's sleeve
Displaying emotions openly
emotional · weepy · tearful · expressive · melodramatic
stiff upper liphot-blooded
Easily aroused emotionally
fiery · passionate · operatic · theatrical · excitable
stiff upper lipfalling apart
Gradually breaking into pieces
breaking down · crumbling · losing it · wimpy · fragility
stiff, upper, stiffness, stiffened, stiffly, lipped, stiffening, stiffer, stiffest