stiff upper lip

noun

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

stiff-upper-lip

ˈstif-ˈə-pər-ˈlip 

adjective

Examples of stiff upper lip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Served with a stiff upper lip — and often an even stiffer drink — the comedies, dramas, police procedurals, science fiction, thrillers, and other genre fusions on this list are some of the best series the country and medium have to offer. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026

There are seven characters in the play but at least seven different romantic couplings, most of them conducted with proper British attitudes and stiff upper lips. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026

Ironically, stiff upper lips seem to have almost vanished as both sexes burst into tears if anything either lovely or lousy happens to them. —Jilly Cooper, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2025

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale brings back the old gang for what’s promised to be one last roundabout of scandals, side eyes, stiff upper lips, sniffling goodbyes and soapy operatics. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase keep a stiff upper lip

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stiff upper lip

• apostleship
• apprenticeship
• assistantship
• championship
• chancellorship
• citizenship
• companionship
• copartnership
• dictatorship
• directorship
• discipleship
• editorship