THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Keep your chin up
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Stay positive in a difficult situation.
Usage note: keep in mind
Keep your chin up is friendly encouragement to stay hopeful during a setback. Change your when reporting the advice to another person. Use it with sensitivity: listening and practical help may be more useful than a cheerful phrase alone.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- I know things are tough right now, but keep your chin up.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
I know things are tough right now, but ________.
Show the answer
Keep your chin up — Stay positive in a difficult situation.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Keep your chin up” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Stay positive in a difficult situation.
Compare: I know things are tough right now, but keep your chin up.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
Jump to a section
More examples in context
- Keep your chin up; one rejected application does not mean every opportunity is closed.
- Her friend encouraged her to keep her chin up while they prepared for the next interview.
Check your understanding
Is this phrase mainly an instruction about posture or a message of encouragement?
Check your answer
A message of encouragement. In idiomatic use, it asks the person to remain hopeful rather than literally adjust their head position.
Use it in your own words
Write one new situation where keep your chin up fits. Explain the situation in plain English first, then rewrite it using the expression. Check that the tone and meaning suit your audience.