Tough up yuh face

phrase TOUGH up yuh FACE tʌf ʌp jʊ feːs

Also spelled tuff up yuh face

“harden your face”

Steel yourself and put on a bold, unbothered face — to brace yourself and press on through hardship, embarrassment, or opposition without letting it show. To 'tough up yuh face' is to harden your expression and your resolve, refusing to look troubled or ashamed, and to carry on with a brazen front no matter what. It is advice for facing down a difficult or humiliating moment: show no weakness, keep your countenance firm, and push through as though nothing can touch you.

  • Di road ahead hard, so tough up yuh face an keep going.

    The road ahead is hard, so steel yourself and keep going.

  • Dem a laugh after yuh? Tough up yuh face an nuh mind dem.

    They're laughing at you? Put on a bold face and pay them no mind.

  • She tough up har face an walk go ask fi di job.

    She braced herself and went to ask for the job.

A face image: to 'tough up' (harden) your face is to set your expression against hardship, showing no weakness — brace and press on.

An encouragement to be brave and unbothered in the face of difficulty or embarrassment.