chin
- the lower extremity of the face, below the mouth.
- the prominence of the lower jaw.
- Informal. chin-up.
- Gymnastics.
- to bring one's chin up to (a horizontal bar, from which one is hanging by the hands), by bending the elbows.
- to raise (oneself) to this position.
- to raise or hold to the chin, as a violin.
- Archaic. to talk to; chatter with.
- Gymnastics. to chin oneself.
- Slang. to talk; chatter: We sat up all night chinning about our college days.
- keep one's chin up, to maintain a cheerful disposition in spite of difficulties, disappointments, etc.Also chin up.
- take it on the chin, Informal.
- to suffer defeat; fail completely.
- to endure suffering or punishment.
Origin of chin
chin
- the protruding part of the lower jaw
- the front part of the face below the lipsRelated adjective: genial
- keep one's chin up to keep cheerful under difficult circumstancesSometimes shortened to: chin up!
- take it on the chin informal to face squarely up to a defeat, adversity, etc
- gymnastics to raise one's chin to (a horizontal bar, etc) when hanging by the arms
- (tr) informal to punch or hit (someone) on the chin
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for keep one's chin up
chin
n.
Old English cin, cinn "chin" (but in some compounds suggesting an older, broader sense of "jawbone"); a general Germanic word (cf. Old Saxon and Old High German kinni; Old Norse kinn; German Kinn "chin;" Gothic kinnus "cheek"), from PIE root *genu- "chin, jawbone" (cf. Sanskrit hanuh, Avestan zanu- "chin;" Armenian cnawt "jawbone, cheek;" Lithuanian žándas "jawbone;" Greek genus "lower jaw," geneion "chin;" Old Irish gin "mouth," Welsh gen "jawbone, chin").
chin
v.
1590s, "to press (affectionately) chin to chin," from chin (n.). Meaning "to bring to the chin" (of a fiddle) is from 1869. Slang meaning "talk, gossip" is from 1883, American English. Related: Chinned; chinning. Athletic sense of "raise one's chin over" (a raised bar, for exercise) is from 1880s.
chin
(chĭn)- The prominence formed by the anterior projection of the lower jaw.
Idioms and Phrases with keep one's chin up
keep one's chin up
Be stalwart and courageous in a difficult situation, as in Don't let the loan officer intimidate you; keep your chin up, or Despite all the difficulty, he kept his chin up. This expression alludes to a posture of firm resolution. [First half of 1900s]
chin
see keep one's chin up; lead with one's chin; take it on the chin.