Keep your pecker up
Meaning
To remain cheerful and optimistic, particularly when facing difficulties or adversity.
Origin
Picture the bustling, grimy streets of Victorian Britain, where resilience was a daily necessity. The word "pecker," used colloquially as early as the mid-19th century, was a slang term for one's nose or, more evocatively, one's spirit and courage. To "keep your pecker up" was a straightforward, almost physical command: don't let your head hang low, don't let your spirits droop. It painted a vivid image of maintaining a defiant, optimistic posture even when life knocked you down, becoming a popular, hearty rallying cry to stay cheerful and resilient through hardship, especially gaining traction through the stoic resolve of the World Wars.
Examples
- After losing his job, John's friends told him to keep his pecker up and start looking for new opportunities.
- The coach reminded the team to keep their peckers up despite being down by two goals with only minutes left.