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From: "Graham J Freer" <graham.j.freer@ntlworld.com>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
References: <bg5uuf$ogc$1@news.hananet.net> <Xns93C7DC49DF80whhvans@62.253.162.115>
Subject: Re: "put a brave face on"?
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Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 15:13:27 +0100
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Yes, it means to appear to be unmoved or, more likely, unhurt (by actual
physical hurt or, more usually, from having been emotionally hurt).
It has a parallel use to that other well-known English expression,
concerning the "stiff upper lip".
Mothers often say it to their children as an alternative to "there, there,
don't cry".
"Harvey Van Sickle" <harvey.news@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:Xns93C7DC49DF80whhvans@62.253.162.115...
> On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 14:07:30 GMT, Min,Lee wrote
>
> > "they're putting a brave face on "
> >
> > Can you let me know what this mean?
> > I guess it means " to do something wrong shamelessly".
> > Is that a right guess? or what it means?
>
> I don't take it to mean "shameless" behaviour: it means to adopt the
> outward appearance and attitude that something is OK, even though the
> situation is undesirable.
>
> The physical image it brings to mind is of someone who really wants to
> cry about something, but who bravely sets their facial expression to
> one of normality.
>
> --
> Cheers, Harvey
>
> Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
> Southern England for the past 21 years.
> (for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
>
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