Keep your chin up means stay positive, don't let it get you down, hang in there. People say it to cheer up someone who has had a setback or is facing a hard time. In English, the part of the face you keep up is your chin, not your nose. There's a short form, Chin up! The phrase is friendly and conversational.
When would you say keep your chin up?
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Keep your chin up!; Chin up!; keep your chin up + during/after + noun
- I know the exam results were disappointing, but keep your chin up. You can retake it in June.
- Chin up! The rain should stop by the afternoon, and we can still go to the beach.
What changed
First versionKeep your nose up, you'll find another job soon.
RevisionKeep your chin up, you'll find another job soon.
Some languages encourage people with an image of keeping your nose up, which leads to keep your nose up. But in English, a raised nose means arrogance: have your nose in the air, to act superior. So nose was replaced with chin: keep your chin up.
Cheer up means don't be sad, and people say it when someone is simply upset. Keep your chin up is closer to hang in there, don't give up, in a difficult situation. And in English a nose in the air is still a sign of arrogance: She walks around with her nose in the air.
Your turn
My friend failed her driving test for the second time, so I hugged her and said, '___! You'll pass next time.'
Show the answer
Chin up — Your friend is upset after a failure, and you're encouraging her: Chin up. Nose up is a literal translation of an image from other languages, and English speakers don't encourage people that way.
Write a short message to a friend who has had a setback. Say what happened and cheer them up with this phrase.
Sorry your job interview didn't go well, Sam. Keep your chin up, there are plenty of other companies hiring right now.
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