- keep up with the Joneses
- keep up with the JonesesTo keep on an equal social footing with one's neighbours, eg by having possessions of the same quality in the same quantity• • •Main Entry: ↑keep
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keep up with the Joneses informal, showing disapproval phraseto try to be as rich, successful etc as your neighboursThesaurus: to compete, or to try to winsynonymMain entry: Joneses* * *
Jones|es «JOHN zihz», noun (plural).keep up with the Joneses,the more prosperous or fashionable people of one's neighborhood or social circle; those who represent a desirable status in society, collectively: »to keep up with the Joneses. [At] this place…there'o living up to the Joneses; there's just a natural desire to help, without any need to make impressions (Calvin Trillin).
╂[plural form of Jones, an ordinary or typical name, as of a neighbor]* * *
Itry to emulate or not be outdone by one's neighborsIItry to maintain the same social and material standards as one's friends or neighbors* * *
keep up with the Jonesesinformal + often disapproving : to show that you are as good as other people by getting what they have and doing what they dopeople trying to keep up with the Joneses by buying expensive cars and clothes that they can't afford
• • •Main Entry: ↑Joneses————————keep up with the Joneses — see• • •Main Entry: ↑keep* * *
ˌkeep up with the ˈJoneses idiom(informal, often disapproving) to try to have all the possessions and social achievements that your friends and neighbours have
Useful english dictionary. 2012.