hold (one's) head (up) high
To feel and show pride in oneself, especially in times of difficulty, failure, or embarrassment. I know you're unhappy that you lost, but you should hold your head high and be proud of all you accomplished this season. No matter the outcome, they can hold their heads up high that they did a good job on this. I know you didn't get a role in the play, but you should hold your head high because you didn't let fear keep you from auditioning.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
hold one's head high
Also, hold one's head up; hold up one's head. Behave proudly; maintain one's dignity. For example, After the bankruptcy Mr. Jones still held his head high, or Grandma told Brian he could hold his head up because he'd tried extremely hard, or After that newspaper article, I'm not sure I'll ever hold up my head again. All these expressions allude to a posture of pride. [Second half of 1500s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.