Idiom | Keep Up with the Joneses |
---|---|
Example | The man next door got a new car, so my cousin got one too. He has to keep up with the Joneses. |
Meaning | to try to keep up with what your neighbors have socially and financially; to work hard to have possessions as good as your neighbors |
Origin | In 1913 a popular comic strip called "Keeping Up with the Joneses" appeared in many American newspapers, starting with the New York Globe. The cartoon was about the experiences of a newly married young man, and the cartoonist based it on his own life. He chose the name Jones because it was a popular name in America. The name of the comic strip became a popular expression that meant to try hard to follow the latest fashion and live in the style of those around you. |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Ear ground today expression americans years ago uncle
Previous card: Wolf door poverty starvation people extra jobs suffering
Up to card list: Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms