Dictionary.com
definitions

hold one's head high

Also, hold one's head up; hold up one's head. Behave proudly; maintain one's dignity. For example, After the bankruptcy Mr. Jones still held his head high, or Grandma told Brian he could hold his head up because he'd tried extremely hard, or After that newspaper article, I'm not sure I'll ever hold up my head again. All these expressions allude to a posture of pride. [Second half of 1500s]

RELATED CONTENT

heads up
Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
basketball head
Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.