keeps up appearances

A form of keep up appearances — To artificially maintain an outward sign of normality; to maintain an appearance of wealth, comfort, or propriety.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of keep up appearances
Cite this entry
APA

keeps up appearances. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keeps%20up%20appearances

MLA

“keeps up appearances.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keeps%20up%20appearances. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keeps up appearances,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keeps%20up%20appearances.

Source: keeps up appearances on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.