put up a brave front
put up a (brave) front
1. To appear or make oneself seem more courageous, resolute, or dauntless than one really feels. I could feel my knees shaking with terror before my commencement speech, but I put up a brave front and stepped out onto the stage to deliver it. This girl I'm dating has a big dog that I'm really scared of, but I put up a front when it's around.
2. To react to or face difficulties, setbacks, or adversity with high spirits or good cheer, especially when it is disingenuous or unauthentic. John's been putting up a front since his wife left him, but I can tell that he is devastated on the inside. I really didn't want to spend Thanksgiving with my wife's parents, but I put up a brave front and suffered through it with a smile.
See also: front, put, up
put up a brave front
1. To appear or make oneself seem more courageous, resolute, or dauntless than one really feels. I could feel my knees shaking with terror before my commencement speech, but I put up a brave front and stepped out onto the stage to deliver it. This girl I'm dating has a big dog that I'm really scared of, but I'm trying to put up a brave front when it's around.
2. To react to or face difficulties, setbacks, or adversity with high spirits or good cheer. John's been putting up a brave front since his diagnosis, taking it one day at a time. I really didn't want to spend Thanksgiving with my wife's parents, but I put up a brave front and suffered through it with a smile.
See also: brave, front, put, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- brave face, put on a
- put a brave front on
- put on a (brave) front
- put on a brave face
- put on a brave front
- put up a (brave) front
- put up a front
- wash hands of
- wash your hands of somebody/something
- wash your hands of something/someone