put a brave face on something

put a brave face on (something)

To appear or make oneself seem more happy, confident, or courageous than one really feels. I could feel my knees shaking with terror before my commencement speech, but I put a brave face on it and stepped out onto the stage to deliver the address. The engineers have been putting a brave face on the problem, but I think this breakdown is going to set us back for months.

See also: brave, face, on, put

put a brave face on something

or

put a brave front on something

COMMON If you put a brave face on a difficult situation or put a brave front on it, you try not to let anyone see how upset or disappointed you are. Dwight was upset by the news, but he put a brave face on it and wrote a note of congratulations. Note: You can also say that someone puts on a brave face or puts on a brave front. They don't like to see how awful we're feeling. They'd much rather we put on a brave front and pretend nothing has happened. Note: This expression is extremely variable. For example, you can use verbs such as keep, present or maintain instead of put on. You can use good instead of brave, or just talk about a brave face. I suspect he was just trying to put on a good face. There are very few shoppers in Sloane Street, although shopkeepers are keeping up a brave face. Colleagues said that despite his brave face, Mr Hutchinson was deeply hurt at his treatment.

See also: brave, face, on, put, something

put a brave (or bold or good) face on something

act as if something unpleasant or upsetting is not as bad as it really is.

See also: brave, face, on, put, something

put a brave ˈface on something

,

put on a brave ˈface

try to appear brave or cheerful or to be managing well in a difficult situation, when in fact you are frightened or unhappy: ‘How’s Mrs O’Brien?’ ‘She’s trying to put a very brave face on things, but you can see that she’s very unhappy.’

See also: brave, face, on, put, something