What is "stiff upper lip"

n. (context idiomatic English) The quality of being resolute and showing self-restraint, stereotypically associated with the British; especially as ''keep a stiff upper lip''.

n. self-restraint in the expression of emotion (especially fear or grief); "the British like to keep a stiff upper lip"

One who has a stiff upper lip displays fortitude in the face of adversity, or exercises great self-restraint in the expression of emotion. The phrase is most commonly heard as part of the idiom "keep a stiff upper lip", and has traditionally been used to describe an attribute of British people, who are sometimes perceived by other cultures as being unemotional. A sign of weakness is trembling of the upper lip, hence the saying keep a stiff upper lip. When a person's upper lip begins to tremble, it is one of the first signs that the person is scared or shaken by experiencing deep emotion.

Despite strong association with the UK, there are indications that the phrase originated in America. One of the earliest known references to the phrase was in the Massachusetts Spy, June 1815: "I kept a stiff upper lip, and bought [a] license to sell my goods." There are several more US references from early 19th century found, and by mid-century it became quite common, while the earliest British reference reported is from 1844.

Poems that feature a memorable evocation of Victorian cold-bloodedness and a stiff upper lip include Rudyard Kipling's " If—" and W. E. Henley's " Invictus". The phrase became symbolic of the British people, and particularly of those who were products of the English public school system during the Victorian era. Such schools aimed to instill a code of discipline and devotion to duty in their students through competitive sports, corporal punishments and cold showers.

Stiff upper lip is a colloquial expression referring to fortitude in the face of adversity.

Stiff upper lip may also refer to:

• Stiff Upper Lip, an album by AC/DC
  • "Stiff Upper Lip" (song), the title song
  • Stiff Upper Lip World Tour, a concert tour
  • Stiff Upper Lip Live, a DVD
• "Stiff Upper Lip" (Gershwin song), a song by George and Ira Gershwin
• Stiff Upper Lips, a 1998 British comedy film
  • Stiff Upper Lip (song) by Mr Hudson from the album Straight No Chaser

"Stiff Upper Lip" is a song by rock band AC/DC. This song is on their 2000 album Stiff Upper Lip, and it is composed by Angus and Malcolm Young. The song was released as a single, and topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was performed on Saturday Night Live on 18 March 2000.

"Stiff Upper Lip" is a 1937 song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It references the British expression ' Stiff upper lip'.

It was introduced by Gracie Allen in the 1937 film A Damsel in Distress. The song is the occasion for an elaborate dance routine performed inside a funhouse by Fred Astaire, George Burns, and Miss Allen, and makes full use of all the trappings of the house, including the funhouse mirror. The number won an Academy Award for Best Dance Direction.

Stiff Upper Lip is an album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was the band's thirteenth internationally released studio album and the fourteenth to be released in Australia. The album was co-produced by George Young, older brother of Malcolm and Angus Young. The album was re-released in the US on 2007 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series. It was re-released in the UK in 2005.