keep a stiff upper lip

- 7 dictionary results

lip

[lip]

noun, adjective, verb, lipped, lip⋅ping.

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–noun

1.	either of the two fleshy parts or folds forming the margins of the mouth and functioning in speech.

2.	Usually, lips. these parts as organs of speech: I heard it from his own lips.

3.	a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object: the lip of a pitcher.

4.	a liplike part or structure, esp. of anatomy.

5.	any edge or rim.

6.	the edge of an opening or cavity, as of a canyon or a wound: the lip of the crater.

7.	Slang. impudent talk; back talk: Don't give me any of your lip.

8.	Botany. either of the two parts into which the corolla or calyx of certain plants, esp. of the mint family, is divided.

Zoology.

a labium.

b.	the outer or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod's shell.

10.	Music. the position and arrangement of lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument; embouchure.

11.	the cutting edge of a tool.

12.	the blade, at the end of an auger, which cuts the chip after it has been circumscribed by the spur.

13.	(in a twist drill) the cutting edge at the bottom of each flute.

–adjective

14.	of or pertaining to the lips or a lip: lip ointment.

15.	characterized by or made with the lips: to read lip movements.

16.	superficial or insincere: to offer lip praise.

–verb (used with object)

17.	to touch with the lips.

18.	Golf. to hit the ball over the rim of (the hole).

19.	to utter, esp. softly.

20.

to kiss.

–verb (used without object)

21.	to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.

—Verb phrase

22.	lip off, Slang. to talk impudently or belligerently.

—Idioms

23.	bite one's lip or tongue, to repress one's anger or other emotions: He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.

24.	button one's lip, Slang. to keep silent, esp., to refrain from revealing information: They told him to button his lip if he didn't want trouble. Also, button up.

25.	hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively: The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.

26.

keep a stiff upper lip,

a.	to face misfortune bravely and resolutely: Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.

b.	to suppress the display of any emotion.

27.	smack one's lips, to indicate one's keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of: We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME lip(pe), OE lippa; c. D lip, G Lippe; akin to Norw lepe, L labium

Related forms:

lipless, adjective

liplike, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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keep (kēp)

v. kept, keep·ing, keeps

v. tr.

To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your composure.
To have as a supply: keep an ax in the shed.
1. To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support: "There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley).
2. To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
3. To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
4. To raise: keep chickens.
5. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
6. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
7. To detain: was kept after school.
8. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
9. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
10. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
11. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To put customarily; store: Where do you keep your saw?
1. To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
2. To raise: keep chickens.
3. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
4. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
5. To detain: was kept after school.
6. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
7. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
8. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
9. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To maintain for use or service: an urbanite who didn't keep a car.
To manage, tend, or have charge of: Keep the shop while I'm away.
To preserve (food).
To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action: tried to keep the patient calm.
1. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
2. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
3. To detain: was kept after school.
4. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
5. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
6. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
7. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
1. To detain: was kept after school.
2. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
3. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
4. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
5. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To adhere or conform to; follow: keep late hours.
To be faithful to; fulfill: keep one's word.
To celebrate; observe.

v. intr.

To remain in a state or condition; stay: keep in line; keep quiet; kept well.
To continue to do: keep on talking; keep guessing.
To remain fresh or unspoiled: The dessert won't keep.
To restrain oneself; hold oneself back: I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.

Care; charge: The child is in my keep for the day.
The means by which one is supported: earn one's keep.
1. The stronghold of a castle.
2. A jail.
3. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
4. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.
To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
1. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
2. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.

Phrasal Verb(s):
keep atTo persevere in work or an action.
keep down

To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.

keep offTo stay away from.
keep toTo adhere to: keep to the original purpose.
keep up

To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
1. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
2. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.

Idiom(s):
for keeps

For an indefinitely long period: gave the ring to me for keeps.
Seriously and permanently: We're separating for keeps.

Idiom(s):
keep an eye on

To watch over attentively; mind.
To watch closely or carefully: keep your eye on the ball.

Idiom(s):
keep an eye outTo be watchful.

Idiom(s):
keep a stiff upper lipTo be courageous or stoic in the face of adversity.

Idiom(s):
keep company

To carry on a courtship: a couple who kept company but never married.
To socialize or associate: keeps company with some tough thugs.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) chin upTo be stalwart, courageous, or optimistic in the face of difficulty.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) eyes open/peeledTo be on the lookout.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) nose clean Informal To stay out of trouble.

Idiom(s):
keep paceTo stay even with others, as in a contest.

Idiom(s):
keep (someone) companyTo accompany or remain with.

Idiom(s):
keep the wolf from the doorTo avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door.

Idiom(s):
keep time

To indicate the correct time.
Music To maintain the tempo or rhythm.

Idiom(s):
keep to (oneself)

To shun the company of others: She kept to herself all morning.
To refrain from divulging: He kept the news to himself.

[Middle English kepen, from Old English cēpan, to observe, seize.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to have and maintain in one's possession or control. Keep is the most general: We received a few offers but decided to keep the house.
Retain means to continue to hold, especially in the face of possible loss: Though unhappy, he retained his sense of humor.
Withhold implies reluctance or refusal to give, grant, or allow: The tenant withheld his rent until the owner fixed the boiler.
To reserve is to hold back for the future or for a special purpose: The farmer reserved two acres for an orchard. See Also Synonyms at observe.

Slang Dictionary

lip

tv. & in.
to kiss someone intimately. : The two of them were in the corner, lipping intently.
n.
a lawyer. (Underworld. See also mouth.) : So I brought in my lip, and he got me off the rap.
n.
and fat lip. back talk; impudent talk. : Don't give me any more of your lip! , I've had enough of your fat lip!

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

lip

O.E. lippa, from P.Gmc. *lepjon (cf. O.Fris. lippa, M.Du. lippe, Ger. Lefze, Swed. läpp, Dan. læbe), from PIE *leb- (cf. L. labium). Transf. sense of "edge or margin of a cup, etc." is from 1592. Slang sense "saucy talk" is from 1821, probably from move the lip (1579) "utter even the slightest word (against someone)." To bite (one's) lip "show vexation" is from 1330. Stiff upper lip as a sign of courage is from 1833. Lip-reading is first attested 1874; lipstick is from 1880; lip gloss from 1939. Lip-service in ref. to "something proffered but not performed" first attested 1644.

Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: lip
Pronunciation: 'lip
Function: noun
1 : either of the two fleshy folds which surround the opening of the mouth in humans and manyother vertebrates and in humans are organs of speech essential to certain articulations; also : the pinkish or reddish margin of a human lip composed of nonglandular mucous membrane andusually exposed when the mouth takes on its natural set
2 : an edge of a wound
3 : either of a pair of fleshy folds surrounding an orifice
4 : an anatomical part or structure (as a labium) resembling a lip —lip·like /'lip-"lIk/ adjective

Medical Dictionary

lip (lĭp)
n.

Either of two fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth.
A liplike structure bounding or encircling a bodily cavity or groove.

Idioms & Phrases

keep a stiff upper lip

Show courage in the face of pain or adversity. For example, I know you're upset about losing the game, but keep a stiff upper lip. This expression presumably alludes to the trembling lips that precede bursting into tears. [Early 1800s]

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