# take on the chin

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-on-the-chin
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To accept without flinching or complaining.

## Examples

- He took the bad news on the chin.
- You should take your boss's feedback on the chin.
- I take every mistake on the chin and keep moving forward.
- The team lost the final game, but they took the defeat on the chin and congratulated their opponents.
- When the restaurant owner told her she had to work on her birthday, she took it on the chin and started her shift.
- The actor took the harsh movie reviews on the chin and promised to choose better roles in the future.
- Despite the unexpected failure of his project, he took the criticism on the chin and immediately began drafting a more effective strategy for the next quarter.

## Origin

The expression entered English as a reference to the sport of boxing, specifically the receipt of a physical blow to the jaw. It describes the act of standing one's ground while being struck, rather than attempting to evade the impact. The phrase has since migrated from the ring to general usage to denote the acceptance of misfortune or criticism without complaint.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.