keep up appearances

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keep up appearances (third-person singular simple present keeps up appearances, present participle keeping up appearances, simple past and past participle kept up appearances)

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

   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.

   Synonyms: maintain appearances, save appearances

• save face