Take It on the Chin

Another boxing phrase, from early 20th-century Britain. A punch to the chin was considered one of the most dangerous blows a boxer could receive, capable of ending a fight outright, so a fighter who could absorb one and stay standing was showing real toughness. That image of enduring a direct hit without flinching or falling carried smoothly into general use, describing anyone who accepts bad news, criticism, or misfortune with composure rather than collapsing under it.