Phrase guide

keep up appearances

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To artificially maintain an outward sign of normality; to maintain an appearance of wealth, comfort, or propriety.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • For my father's sake, I thought I must keep up appearances, but the food stuck in my throat, and I could not swallow another mouthful.
  • With tact and management it would be possible to partially satisfy creditors, and keep up appearances for six months more.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: maintain appearances, save appearances

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: de schijn ophouden — pretend to be all right
  • Finnish: pitää yllä kulissia — pretend to be all right
  • French: sauver les apparences — pretend to be all right
  • German: den Schein wahren — pretend to be all right
  • Hungarian: fenntartja a látszatot — pretend to be all right
  • Italian: salvare le apparenze — pretend to be all right
  • Japanese: 取り繕う (toritsukurou) — pretend to be all right
  • Polish: zachowywać pozory — pretend to be all right
  • Polish: zachować pozory — pretend to be all right
  • Russian: де́лать хоро́шую ми́ну при плохо́й игре́ (délatʹ xoróšuju mínu pri ploxój igré) — pretend to be all right
  • Russian: сохраня́ть хоро́шую ми́ну при плохо́й игре́ (soxranjátʹ xoróšuju mínu pri ploxój igré) — pretend to be all right
  • Russian: держа́ть хоро́шую ми́ну при плохо́й игре́ (deržátʹ xoróšuju mínu pri ploxój igré) — pretend to be all right
  • Spanish: mantener las apariencias — pretend to be all right
  • Spanish: guardar las apariencias — pretend to be all right
  • Spanish: salvar las apariencias — pretend to be all right
  • Spanish: aparentar — pretend to be all right
  • Swedish: hålla skenet uppe — pretend to be all right