B2idiomemotionsIELTS-friendly
put on a brave face
USUK
to pretend to be happy or calm when you are upset
Also 'put a brave face on it'. It shows sympathy for the person.
In context
She put on a brave face at the farewell party, but she cried on the way home.
It's hard to put on a brave face when your business is failing.
More idioms about emotions
- a bitter pill to swallowan unpleasant fact or situation that is hard to accept
- a bundle of nervesvery nervous and worried
- a chip on your shouldera lasting anger because you feel you were treated unfairly in the past
- a knot in your stomacha tight, sick feeling in your body caused by worry or fear
- a lump in your throata tight feeling in your throat because you are so moved that you might cry