keep your spirits up

/kiːp jɔːr ˈspɪrɪts ʌp/
stay cheerful or hopeful

Even though the project is behind schedule, we need to keep our spirits up.

This means to stay positive and motivated despite challenges.

◆ What It Really Means
To maintain a positive attitude or morale, especially during difficult times
Literal Meaning
To physically raise one's spirits or emotions upward
Literal Breakdown
keepto hold or maintain+your spiritsyour emotional or moral state+upin a higher position
◇ Mental Image
The metaphor of 'spirits' as something that can be raised or lowered, representing emotional states.
◈ When to Use
A friend is feeling stressed about work, and you say, 'Keep your spirits up, you'll get through this!'
◉ Cultural Note
This phrase reflects the cultural value of resilience and maintaining a positive outlook in English-speaking societies.
informal

To maintain a positive attitude or morale, especially during difficult times

The team leader reminded everyone to keep their spirits up during the long meeting.

The leader encouraged the team to stay positive and focused.

She sent a cheerful message to keep her friend's spirits up after the bad news.

She tried to lift her friend's mood by being supportive.

This phrase is often used to encourage someone who is feeling down or discouraged.

Collocations

keep your chin upsimilar phrase meaning to stay positivestay positivealternative phrase with similar meaning

Related Phrases

lift someone's spiritsphrase
to cheer someone up
down in the dumpsidiom
feeling sad or depressed

Pro Tip

Encouragement

Use this phrase when someone is feeling discouraged to offer support.

Gold Rule

Context

This phrase is best used in supportive or motivational conversations.

Word Origin

The phrase originates from the idea of 'spirits' as one's emotional state or morale. Keeping them 'up' means maintaining a positive outlook.

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in informal contexts to encourage someone or to express determination to stay positive.

Word Breakdown

keep
to maintain
verb
+
your spirits
your emotional state or morale
noun phrase
+
up
in a positive or elevated state
adverb
English Dictionary
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