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idiom

Keep Up with the Joneses

keep UP with thuh JOH-nez-iz

/kiːp ʌp wɪð ðə ˈdʒoʊnɪzɪz/

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Syllable breakdown

KeepUpwiththeJoneses

Dictionary meaning

To try to match or surpass the lifestyle, possessions, or status of one's neighbors or peers, often at personal financial or emotional cost. Originated from a comic strip about trying to match a neighbor family called the Joneses.

Examples

  • Suburban neighborhoods can create pressure to keep up with the Joneses when it comes to home renovations.
  • She decided to stop keeping up with the Joneses and focus on what truly made her happy.

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