put on a facade; keep up appearances
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb phrase
to put on a facade; to keep up appearances
informalDescribes spending money or effort to create an impressive but often superficial or misleading outward appearance, especially in social or business contexts, suggesting a lack of substance or sincerity.
Gōng公
sī司
zī资
jīn金
jǐn紧
zhāng张
，
dàn但
wèi为
le了
tán谈
shēng生
yì意
，
lǎo老
bǎn板
hái还
shì是
zū租
le了
háo豪
chē车
lái来
bǎi摆
mén门
miàn面
。
The company is short on funds, but to negotiate deals, the boss still rented a luxury car to keep up appearances.
Tā她
xǐ喜
huān欢
mǎi买
hěn很
duō多
shū书
bǎi摆
zài在
kè客
tīng厅
lǐ里
，
qí其
shí实
gēn根
běn本
bù不
kàn看
，
chún纯
shǔ属
bǎi摆
mén门
miàn面
。
She likes to buy lots of books and display them in the living room, but she never reads them; it's purely for show.
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Jié结
hūn婚
shí时
jiè借
qián钱
dà大
bàn办
jiǔ酒
xí席
，
jiù就
shì是
wèi为
le了
bǎi摆
mén门
miàn面
gěi给
qīn亲
qi戚
kàn看
。
They borrowed money to throw a lavish banquet for the wedding, just to put on a show for their relatives.
Zhè这
jiā家
xiǎo小
diàn店
zhuāng装
xiū修
dé得
hěn很
háo豪
huá华
，
jiù就
shì是
zài在
bǎi摆
mén门
miàn面
xī吸
yǐn引
gù顾
kè客
。
This small shop is extravagantly decorated; it's just putting on a facade to attract customers.
Zuò做
rén人
yào要
shí实
zài在
，
bié别
zǒng总
xiǎng想
zhe着
bǎi摆
mén门
miàn面
。
Be genuine in life; don't always think about keeping up appearances.