what does the phrase" A stiff upper lip" really mean?

Question

I am new the the site so I didn't know it had already been asked!! Sorry

Answer 1

One who has a stiff upper lip displays fortitude in the face of adversity, or exercises self-restraint in the expression of emotion. The phrase is most commonly heard as part of the idiom, apparently American in origin, "keep a stiff upper lip", and has traditionally been used to describe a supposed attribute of British people, who were (and sometimes still are) perceived by many as being reserved.

Answer 2

When someone is having a hard time containing his (or her!) emotions, (especially when tears are close at hand), the upper lip has a tendency to tremble. Therefore, to "keep a stiff upper lip" mean to control your emotions to the point where no one can tell that you are in distress.

Answer 3

Just a funny fact for you Americans, when I hear stiff upper lip I think about "snus", which is a Swedish inventing. "Snus" is non-smoking tobacco that you put in the upper lip, click the link to watch a stiff upper lip!

http://www.aftonbladet.se/halsa/0001/08/snus.html

Answer 4

This has been asked and answered in Yahoo Answers already several times over...

http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AubjWu8QOHCqaH28dIQrKZInzKIX?p=stiff+upper+lip&scope=subject&mc=&fltr=_en&tab=0&asktime=&st=1

It helps to check the existing knowledge base before posting a question yet again.

Answer 5

I believe it means, "Remember to stay calm." or "Stay strong and don't break down in front of others." The first time I heard it was in a song instructing how a princess should act in front of others entitled " To be a Princess." It was really quite catchy.