Cheering someone up

Sometimes other people around us feel a bit down or unhappy about something. Here are ten phrases you can use to try to make them feel better.

Cheer up!/Chin up!
Smile!
It's not the end of the world.
Worse things happen at sea.
Look on the bright side...
Every cloud (has a silver lining).
Practice makes perfect.
There are plenty more fish in the sea.
Lighten up!
There's no use crying over spilt milk.

Explanations

• Phrases 1 and 2 are informal and can be used when someone looks unhappy.
• Phrases 3 and 4 are well-known sayings which can be used to console someone who feels that things are very bad. They should probably not be used if things really are very bad.
• Phrases 5 and 6 are suggesting that the other person should try to see the positive side of the situation.
• Phrase 7 is used to encourage and cheer up a person who is finding something difficult or feeling frustrated about not being able to do something.
• Phrase 8 is used specifically to cheer up somebody who has just finished a relationship. The speaker is trying to encourage them to look for a new partner.
• Phrases 9 and 10 can seem less sympathetic and suggest that the person needs to forget what has happened and move on.