hold one's head high

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hold one's head high (third-person singular simple present holds one's head high, present participle holding one's head high, simple past and past participle held one's head high)

1. (idiomatic) To act with pride; to be proud in a positive way.
   • 1978, Dino Fekaris; Freddie Perren (lyrics and music), “I Will Survive”, in Love Tracks, performed by Gloria Gaynor:

     And I spent oh so many nights just feeling sorry for myself / I used to cry, but now I hold my head up high

   • 2008, “Houston”, in Accelerate, performed by R.E.M.:

     So a man's put to task and challenges / I was taught to hold my head high / Collect what is mine / Make the best of what today has.

   • 2013 October 31, Rowena Mason, quoting David Steel, “Lord Steel criticises culture of spin and tweeting in modern politics”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     How on earth are we supposed to hold our heads high as the 'mother of parliaments' when we allow to continue the practice of almost openly buying a seat in parliament?

• with one's head held high