Those who, on inquiry, admit that their health and fortunes are fair-to-middling navigate carefully between the twin dangers of boastfulness and curmudgeonliness, while gesturing in a chin-up sort of way towards the possibility of future improvement.

ECONOMIST: Bad language

"If I get out there - chest out, chin up - I've got the most experience and will try to show them how it's done, " said the 37-year-old from Worksop.

BBC: Ryder Cup 2010: Westwood aims to lead Europe by example

But chin up, little ones -- we're sure an official release must be imminent.

ENGADGET: Palm webOS 1.2 leaked, plugged in record time

The explosion sent the walls tumbling down, burying the 18-year-old up to her chin under three floors of collapsed concrete and steel.

NPR: Lebanese Families Cope with War Deaths

During the tournament, Greg Chin, an adult-education teacher, lighted up when Mr. Kesner asked contestants to name the only person to have come in second in three presidential elections.

WSJ: Trivia Is Pursuit in Bars Across City

He was preposterously fair-skinned, weak in the chin, cherubically curly up top, and had worn the same round wire frames forever.

NEWYORKER: Good Neighbors

The man who said in 1994: "I don't pursue vendettas or punch people on the nose, " lit-up the dull 2001 general election by, well, punching a man on the chin.

BBC: The John Prescott story