keep up appearances
phrase
: 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.
Cite this Entry
“Keep up appearances.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20up%20appearances. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
