keep up appearances
idiom
: to hide something bad by pretending that nothing is wrong
Although we were getting a divorce, my parents thought it was important to keep up appearances.
Examples of keep up appearances in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To some extent, the characters were performing, trying to keep up appearances.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2021
As the pair stumbles to keep up appearances, Leo’s encounters with a prospective romantic partner or an employer reveal bits of truth about her in an ingeniously casual manner.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021
In the weeks leading up to its release, Prince Harry’s forthcoming memoir Spare has no shortage of revelatory details about his complicated relationship with the Royal Family, previously confined to keep up appearances.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2023
Perfect for someone like Mrs. Sullivan who is aiming to keep up appearances via old-school social norms—while discreetly maintaining her power in a way that is decidedly in the mindset of a 21st-century woman.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2022
Last year, Japan’s prime minister urged citizens to work from home during a widespread COVID outbreak, but commuters still packed Tokyo’s public transport, eager to keep up appearances with their superiors and frustrated by their employers’ failure to deploy the technology needed for remote work.
—Nicholas Gordon and
grady McGregor, Fortune, 29 June 2022
With her trademark charm to the fore, Adams is a good fit for Amanda, the mother struggling to keep up appearances and secure her daughter’s future.
—David Benedict, Variety, 1 June 2022
One rumor has it that someone bought W.D. and kept the guys on the payroll to keep up appearances.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Jan. 2022
As Tanya and Ryan partake in the neighborhood's holiday happenings to keep up appearances and crack the case, they get swept up in Christmas.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE.com, 21 Oct. 2021
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Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2021
As the pair stumbles to keep up appearances, Leo’s encounters with a prospective romantic partner or an employer reveal bits of truth about her in an ingeniously casual manner.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2021
In the weeks leading up to its release, Prince Harry’s forthcoming memoir Spare has no shortage of revelatory details about his complicated relationship with the Royal Family, previously confined to keep up appearances.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2023
Perfect for someone like Mrs. Sullivan who is aiming to keep up appearances via old-school social norms—while discreetly maintaining her power in a way that is decidedly in the mindset of a 21st-century woman.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2022
Last year, Japan’s prime minister urged citizens to work from home during a widespread COVID outbreak, but commuters still packed Tokyo’s public transport, eager to keep up appearances with their superiors and frustrated by their employers’ failure to deploy the technology needed for remote work.
—Nicholas Gordon and
grady McGregor, Fortune, 29 June 2022
With her trademark charm to the fore, Adams is a good fit for Amanda, the mother struggling to keep up appearances and secure her daughter’s future.
—David Benedict, Variety, 1 June 2022
One rumor has it that someone bought W.D. and kept the guys on the payroll to keep up appearances.
—Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 7 Jan. 2022
As Tanya and Ryan partake in the neighborhood's holiday happenings to keep up appearances and crack the case, they get swept up in Christmas.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE.com, 21 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Keep up appearances.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20up%20appearances. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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