stiff upper lip
noun
: a steady and determined attitude or manner in the face of trouble
stiff-upper-lip
ˈstif-ˈə-pər-ˈlip 
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web For many in the UK at least, the Queen remained a unifying figure through thick and thin, embodying the British stiff upper lip and devotion to duty that carried them through the deprivations of the second world war. 
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 The stiff upper lip that had gotten the British thorough the London Blitz during World War II just wasn't the right attitude for a population that was now much more willing to show their emotions publicly. Peter Bergen, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 Far from taking her cue from the contemporary Brene Brown-like invitation to make vulnerability and story-sharing part of your leadership playbook, the Queen has chosen to shoulder chaos with a very British rendering of the stiff upper lip. Avivah Wittenberg-cox, Forbes, 8 June 2022 But Andrew was notoriously unfaithful, and Camilla’s stiff upper lip soon wobbled. Simon Usborne, Town & Country, 17 July 2022 British stiff upper lip and all that, but come on, the kid is four. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 8 June 2022 Henry told of how in his time as a footballer, players were expected to keep a stiff upper lip and their problems to themselves in fear of later reprisals. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2022 The Blue Jays maintained a stiff upper lip throughout, but Lebron could sense something missing. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2021 Physicians are taught to sacrifice, overlook pain and keep a stiff upper lip. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021 See More
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 The stiff upper lip that had gotten the British thorough the London Blitz during World War II just wasn't the right attitude for a population that was now much more willing to show their emotions publicly. Peter Bergen, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 Far from taking her cue from the contemporary Brene Brown-like invitation to make vulnerability and story-sharing part of your leadership playbook, the Queen has chosen to shoulder chaos with a very British rendering of the stiff upper lip. Avivah Wittenberg-cox, Forbes, 8 June 2022 But Andrew was notoriously unfaithful, and Camilla’s stiff upper lip soon wobbled. Simon Usborne, Town & Country, 17 July 2022 British stiff upper lip and all that, but come on, the kid is four. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 8 June 2022 Henry told of how in his time as a footballer, players were expected to keep a stiff upper lip and their problems to themselves in fear of later reprisals. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2022 The Blue Jays maintained a stiff upper lip throughout, but Lebron could sense something missing. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2021 Physicians are taught to sacrifice, overlook pain and keep a stiff upper lip. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
from the phrase keep a stiff upper lip
First Known Use
1815, in the meaning defined above