stiff upper lip

noun

: a steady and determined attitude or manner in the face of trouble
stiff-upper-lip adjective

Examples of stiff upper lip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Roll with the punches by keeping a stiff upper lip. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024 Will the Academy’s considerable Brit contingent put their stiff upper lips behind Saoirse Ronan and make the four-time nominee a real threat in the Supporting Actress race? 7. Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2024 There’s a meticulous approach to accuracy here, but without the stiff upper lip to go with it. Verity Burns, WIRED, 10 Oct. 2024 At the time, the royals were not known for anything other than a stiff upper lip. Rachel Burchfield, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stiff upper lip 

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase keep a stiff upper lip

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stiff upper lip was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near stiff upper lip

Cite this Entry

“Stiff upper lip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stiff%20upper%20lip. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!