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.

Examples of keep up appearances in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

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

To some extent, the characters were performing, trying to keep up appearances. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2021

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

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

Rhymes for keep up appearances

• clearances
• disappearances
• interferences