proverb · Words worth keeping
To put a good face on a bad game.
To put a good face on a bad game.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Composure can help you face an unfavourable situation. Presenting a steady manner is useful when it supports action, but it should not require denying what has gone wrong.
Example
After a venue cancels, an organiser speaks calmly to the team, explains the problem honestly and begins arranging an alternative.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The face is favourable while the game is not. The contrast concerns how a person carries themselves when circumstances disappoint them. A calm outward manner can preserve cooperation and give room to decide what to do next. It differs from pretending the situation is successful or concealing a fact others need to know. The saying supports poise as one possible response to difficulty. It does not require smiling through every hardship or hiding a legitimate need for assistance.
When to use it
Use it to encourage composure that helps address a setback.
Keep in mind
People need room to express disappointment and ask for help. A good face should not become compulsory emotional concealment.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown