put on a brave face

Meaning

This expression means to behave as if you are happy, confident, or unbothered, even though you are actually feeling sad, worried, or frightened. It is used when someone is trying to hide their true, negative emotions during a difficult situation. The tone is empathetic and neutral.

Examples

• Even though she was devastated by the news, she put on a brave face for her children.

  Even though she was devastated by the news, she put on a brave face for her children.

• I had to put on a brave face during the presentation, despite feeling incredibly nervous.

  I had to put on a brave face during the presentation, despite feeling incredibly nervous.

• He is dealing with a lot of personal issues, but he always puts on a brave face at work.

  He is dealing with a lot of personal issues, but he always puts on a brave face at work.

• It is exhausting to constantly put on a brave face when things are going wrong.

  It is exhausting to constantly put on a brave face when things are going wrong.

• She put on a brave face and smiled as they announced the winner of the competition.

  She put on a brave face and smiled as they announced the winner of the competition.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She put on a brave look when she heard the bad news.

  ✓ She put on a brave face when she heard the bad news.

  The noun in this idiom is strictly 'face,' not 'look' or 'expression'.

• ✗ He tried to put a brave face during the crisis.

  ✓ He tried to put on a brave face during the crisis.

  Do not omit the preposition 'on'; the phrasal verb structure is 'put on'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Despite losing the match, the team ___ and congratulated their opponents.

  💡 showed courage and hid disappointment

  Show answer

  put on a brave face

• You don't always have to ___; it is okay to admit that you are struggling.

  💡 pretend to be strong

  Show answer

  put on a brave face