keep up with the Joneses

You are wondering about the meaning of the phrase keep up with the Joneses, maybe you heard it in a TV show, movie or theater play. Although this idiom is not used very often, it enriches your capacity of expression and strengthens communication. In which case is the expression keep up with the Joneses used and what is its meaning?

Meaning of "keep up with the Joneses"

Meaning

The idiom ‘keep up with the Joneses’ is an expression to describe a competition between two or more people or groups to maintain or acquire a certain level of wealth, possessions or status. This term is used to convey a sense of trying to stay on par with those around you by measuring yourself against them. It implies that one is benchmarking their success against their peers, and keeping up with their achievements.

Etymology

The phrase originated in the United States in the early 20th century, and is said to have derived from the comic strip series with the same name. The strip, created by Arthur R. 'Pop' Momand, ran from 1913 to 1940, and featured the Jones family – a prosperous, middle-class family living in a small American town. The Joneses were seen as the epitome of success, and their neighbours and society in general tried to keep up with their lifestyle, fashion, possessions and attitudes.

The phrase has since morphed into a broader idiom that covers the wider competition of people to try to maintain a certain image or level of wealth and possessions.

Usage

The 'keep up with the Joneses' idiom can be used in a variety of different contexts to describe varying levels of ambition, competitiveness and social comparison.

On a more negative note, the expression can be used to describe those driven by material possessions and an obsession with having the latest and best of everything. It implies that money and material goods are more important than focusing on personal or communal goals and relationships.

On a more positive note, it can be used to describe those who use the competition as a source of motivation and inspiration to push themselves towards their goals. It can also be used in a more light-hearted manner to describe people who are concerned with being fashionable or having the latest gadgets.

Example Sentences

• John is always looking to buy the most expensive cars and gadgets - he's really trying to keep up with the Joneses.
• Jane got a promotion and now she's trying to keep up with the Joneses by buying a better car and a new house.
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The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.