Sunday, July 17, 2005
Nagging Question
I have read many articles about the 7/7 bombings and almost all mention the "stiff upper lip" of the British, another term I heard all my life. What does "stiff upper lip" mean? All right, I know it means a stoic reaction to tragedy. Let me be more precise: Why does it mean that? I've googled without satisfaction.
Maybe Jeeves knows.
Maybe Jeeves knows.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 8:30 AM 
Comments:
<< Home
I`ve never understood the expression either, Roger, and as you know, I`m from the UK.
It will be interesting to see if any of your readers have an idea of where it came from.
I`m not even really sure if there is such a thing as an overall British personality, although it is referred to often. While the countries which make up the United Kingdom definately share bits and pieces of a personality, we are also very different to each other too.
I grew up thinking it was a very English expression, middle to upper class, and probably public school somewhere down the line. Why I thought this, I have no idea, except that it is not an expression used in Scotland.
As you say, it is a stoic reaction to tragedy, and I wonder if it`s from the old belief that boy children should not cry, that crying showed weakness, and that they had to hold it in....stiffen the lip...don`t let it tremble..don`t show weakness..
Pocket-book guessing here...!
What do you think so far..does it sound half-plausible?
I hope someone knows this one, because I`d quite like to know too!
It will be interesting to see if any of your readers have an idea of where it came from.
I`m not even really sure if there is such a thing as an overall British personality, although it is referred to often. While the countries which make up the United Kingdom definately share bits and pieces of a personality, we are also very different to each other too.
I grew up thinking it was a very English expression, middle to upper class, and probably public school somewhere down the line. Why I thought this, I have no idea, except that it is not an expression used in Scotland.
As you say, it is a stoic reaction to tragedy, and I wonder if it`s from the old belief that boy children should not cry, that crying showed weakness, and that they had to hold it in....stiffen the lip...don`t let it tremble..don`t show weakness..
Pocket-book guessing here...!
What do you think so far..does it sound half-plausible?
I hope someone knows this one, because I`d quite like to know too!
I am so glad that you don't really know either (although your guess/explanation sounds about right to me) The only guy I know in America with a upper lip curl was Elvis (sumpin' wrong with ma' lip) Presley. I will keep trying with this and let you know.
Post a Comment
<< Home
