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Appearance
to all appearances
According to the way things appear or how one sees things; as is apparent to observation. To all appearances, Daren seemed a very happy, outgoing fellow, so his nervous breakdown took many people by surprise. The giant corporation was, to all appearances, doing quite well, but just last week it filed for bankruptcy.
appearances can be deceiving
Appearances do not always convey accurate information. That house sure looks beautiful on the outside, but appearances can be deceiving. What did the inspector say about the foundation? Sure, she seems nice, but appearances can be deceiving.
Appearances can be deceiving.
Prov. Things can look different from the way they really are. Edward seems like a very nice boy, but appearances can be deceiving. Jane may look like she doesn't understand you, but she's really extremely bright. Appearances can be deceiving.
by all appearances
apparently; according to what one sees or how things seem. She is, by all appearances, ready to resume work. By all appearances, we ought to be approaching the airport.
keep someone up
1. Lit. to hold someone upright. Try to keep him up until I can get his bed made. Keep her up for a few minutes longer.
2. Fig. to prevent someone from going to bed or going to sleep. I'm sorry, was my trumpet keeping you up? The noise kept us up.
keep something up
1. Lit. to hold or prop something up. Keep your side of the trunk up. Don't let it sag. Keep up your side of the trunk.
2. Fig. to continue doing something. I love your singing. Don't stop. Keep it up. Please keep up your singing.
3. Fig. to maintain something in good order. I'm glad you keep the exterior of your house up. You keep up your house nicely.
keep up appearances
to make things look all right whether they are or not. We must keep up appearances even if it means little sacrifices here and there. Things may be unpleasant, but we will keep up appearances.
keep up
(with someone or something) 1. Lit. to advance at the same rate as someone or something; to be just as productive as someone or something. Don't work so fast. I can't keep up with you. You're running so fast that I cannot keep up with you. I don't make enough money to keep up with your spending.
2. Fig. to pay attention to the news about someone or something. I don't see the Smiths a lot since they moved, but I keep up with them by phone. I try to keep up with current events.
make an appearance
to appear; to appear in a performance. We waited for thirty minutes for the professor to make an appearance, then we went home. The famous singing star made an appearance in Detroit last August.
put in an appearance (at something)
to appear briefly at some place or at some event. I only wanted to put in an appearance at the reception, but I ended up staying for two hours. Do we have to stay a long time, or can we just put in an appearance?
keep up (with somebody/something)
1. to stay level or equal with someone or something I'm too old or too tired and I just can't keep up. The little boy tried very hard to keep up with his older brother's accomplishments.
2. to move as quickly as someone else I have short legs, and I almost had to run to keep up.
keep somebody up
also keep up somebody to cause someone to stay awake I hope I'm not keeping you up. You're making so much noise, you're going to keep up the whole neighborhood!
keep up something
also keep something up to continue to do or have something Keep up the good work. Even though he lost his job, they managed to keep up an expensive lifestyle. I have a great relationship with my children now, and I'm doing my best to keep that up.
keep up appearances
to hide your personal or financial problems from other people by continuing to live and behave in the same way that you did in the past Simply keeping up appearances was stretching their resources to the limit.
keep up
1. Also,
keep up with. Proceed at the same pace, continue alongside another, as in
We try to keep up with the times. [First half of 1600s] This usage, also put as
keep pace, appears in the phrase
keeping up with the Joneses, which was coined in 1913 by cartoonist Arthur R. Momand for the title of a series in the
New York Globe. It means "trying to match the lifestyle of one's more affluent neighbors or acquaintances." For example,
Their buying a new van is just another attempt to keep up with the Joneses.
2. Support, sustain, as in
They're trying to keep up their spirits while they wait for news of the crash. [Late 1600s] Also see
keep one's chin up.
3. Maintain in good condition, as in Joan really kept up the property. [Mid-1500s] This usage also appears in the idiom keep up appearances, meaning "to maintain a good front, make things look good even if they're not," as in She was devastated by his bad prognosis but is trying hard to keep up appearances for their children . [Mid-1700s]
4. Persevere, carry on, prolong, as in
Keep up the good work, or
How long will this noise keep up? [Early 1500s] Also see
keep it up.
5. Also, keep up with; keep up on. Stay in touch, remain informed. For example, Ann and I haven't seen each other since college, but we keep up through our annual Christmas letters , or We subscribe to three papers so as to keep up on current events. [c. 1900]
6. keep someone up. Cause someone to remain out of bed, as in He's keeping up the children beyond their bedtime. [Mid-1700s]
put in an appearance
Also, make an appearance. Be present, especially for a short time, as in We were hoping the rock star would put in an appearance, but she didn't show up, or She was tired and didn't want to go to the party, but decided she had to make an appearance. [Second half of 1600s]
keep up
v.1. To preserve or sustain something: We kept up the appearance of friendship even though we were mad at each other. The couple kept appearances up even though they had separated.
2. To maintain something in good condition: He did a good job of keeping up the property. The community kept up the old church.
3. To persevere in doing something; carry on doing something: I asked her to stop yelling, but she kept it up. Keep up the good work!
4. To continue at a steady level or pace, especially a significant level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
5. To maintain a value or level equal to that of something, even as that value or level increases: The number of new TVs that arrived didn't keep up with the demand. The scarcity of available land keeps up the demand for it.
6. To match some competitor or perceived competitor: I kept up with the leader of the race until the very end, and so I came in second place.
7. To cause someone to remain awake: The noise from the construction site kept me up all night.
8. keep up on To remain adequately informed: He loved to keep up on the gossip by reading the tabloids.
put in an appearance
To attend a social engagement, especially for a short time.