What Does "Keep up with the Joneses" Mean?
"Keep up with the joneses" is an English idiom. It means "to try to match or better one's neighbours or peers in terms of material possessions or social status."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "keep up with the joneses" used in a sentence:- They bought a new car just to keep up with the Joneses.
- Trying to keep up with the Joneses can lead to unnecessary financial stress.
- She realized she was happier when she stopped trying to keep up with the Joneses.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Keep up with the Joneses" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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