What does a stiff upper lip mean?

: a steady and determined attitude or manner in the face of trouble.

How do you keep your upper lip stiff?

keep a stiff upper lip, to

Do not give way to adversity; appear to be resolute and stoical without showing your true feelings. This term comes from America in the early 1800s and presumably refers to a trembling lip, which betrays that one is about to burst into tears.

Where does the expression stiff upper lip?

As reported from the Online Etymology Dictionary, keep a stiff upper lip is attested from 1815. It is probably referring to the facial mimic, in the same way bite one’s lip and curl one’s lip do. The meaning of a stiff upper lip reported by the NOAD is «a quality of uncomplaining stoicism.»

Who said keep a stiff upper lip?

The expression keep a stiff upper lip was popularized by the novel Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse and published in 1963. Interestingly, the idiom keep a stiff upper lip originated as an American way to describe staying resolute without giving way to emotion.

Why do British have a stiff upper lip?

The phrase is most commonly heard as part of the idiom «keep a stiff upper lip», and has traditionally been used to describe an attribute of British people in remaining resolute and unemotional when faced with adversity. A sign of fear is trembling of the upper lip, hence the saying keep a «stiff» upper lip.

What is upper lip?

Your upper lip is the part of your face between your mouth and your nose. The beginnings of a moustache showed on his upper lip. 2. countable noun. Your upper lip is the higher of your two lips.

What does no skin off my nose mean?

informal. —used to say that someone does not care or does not have a strong opinion about something Go if you like—it’s no skin off my nose.

Is no skin off my nose?

If someone says it’s no skin off my nose they mean they are not worried about something because it only affects or harms other people or because it is not their responsibility.

What does against the odds mean?

If you do or achieve something against (all) the odds/against all odds, you do or achieve it although there were a lot of problems and you were not likely to succeed: Against all the odds, he recovered. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Not expected or planned.

Where did no skin off my nose?

It’s no skin off our nose

It’s said to have originated from boxing but we think that this suggestion is much more macabre! It’s believed that in 16th century England, much to the disdain and annoyance of the King, an unsavoury cult existed.

Is there actually skin on your teeth?

If your teeth did have skin, it’s so thin as to be imaginary! In other words, it’s barely there! Some clever kids who know a lot about teeth might mention that sometimes your teeth do have a sort of skin on them. Microscopic bacteria in your mouth can form a film called plaque on your teeth overnight.

Why do they say no skin off my teeth?

In modern times, «by the skin of my teeth» is used to describe a situation from which one has barely managed to escape or achieve something.

What does nose to the grindstone mean?

Definition of keep one’s nose to the grindstone

: to do hard, continuous work You’ll do well at school if you just keep your nose to the grindstone.

Where did the expression skin in the game come from?

The origin of the phrase, not commonly used in conversational vocabulary, comes from southern derby races. The owners of the horse have “skin” in “the game”. As the owner, they have the most riding on the outcome of the derby event.

Where did skin of my teeth come from?

By the skin of your teeth

The first recorded instance of this phrase was from the Bible (Job 19:20). The King James version reads, “My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.” It’s meant to convey a slim escape from a risky situation.

What does nose to the ground mean?

nose to the grindstone (plural noses to the grindstone or noses to grindstones) (idiomatic, after keep, put, have, hold (one’s)) used to form idioms meaning «to work hard, or focus heavily on work.» If he’d keep his nose to the grindstone a bit more, he could be a pretty good student.

Why do we say pay through the nose?

The origin of the phrase pay through the nose is quite murky, though it seems to be associated in some way to the paying of taxes. When the Danes conquered Ireland in the ninth century, they took a census by “counting noses”. Exorbitant taxes were imposed on each “nose”, thus one had to pay through the nose.

What is a grindstone used for?

This grindstone was used for sharpening knives and tools. It’s a round piece of sandstone, about half a metre in diameter, with a metal bar through the middle connected to a handle.

Do you find it difficult to keep your nose to the grindstone?

If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you continue to work very hard and do not spend time on other things. I know if I keep my nose to the grindstone and work hard, things will work out. Note: You can also say that you put your nose to the grindstone, meaning that you start to work hard.

What is an example of a bone to pick idiom?

Meaning: an unpleasant issue or grievance that need discussion. Example: The two reputed universities of the state have a bone to pick with each other over reservation policy for admissions.

What does unfazed mean in English?

: not confused, worried, or shocked by something that has happened. See the full definition for unfazed in the English Language Learners Dictionary.