keep up with the Joneses

English

Etymology

Various theories; see Wikipedia article.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Verb

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

1. (idiomatic) To act or make purchases for status or image rather than out of need, especially for the purpose of competing with friends, neighbors, or the modern well-to-do family.

   Do you really need a fancy new car or are you just trying to keep up with the Joneses?

Translations

act or make purchases for status or image

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 爭相攀比／争相攀比 (zhēngxiāng pānbǐ), 争相攀比 (zhēngxiāng pānbǐ),, 互相攀比 (hùxiāng pānbǐ)

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: olla mukana elintasokilpailussa

See also

• conspicuous consumption
• peer pressure