keep up appearances; put on a front
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to keep up appearances; to put on a front
dialect方言用语，指在财力或实力不足的情况下，为了面子或形式而勉强维持一种繁荣、体面的场面。通常带有勉强、刻意、不自然的内涵。与“撑场面”、“硬撑”同义。
Gōng公
sī司
dōu都
fā发
bù不
chū出
gōng工
zī资
le了
，
lǎo老
bǎn板
hái还
zài在
qǐng请
kè客
chī吃
fàn饭
bēng绷
chǎng场
miàn面
。
The company can't even pay salaries, but the boss is still treating guests to meals to keep up appearances.
Hūn婚
lǐ礼
shàng上
zū租
háo豪
chē车
、
qǐng请
yuè乐
duì队
，
jiù就
shì是
wèi为
le了
bēng绷
chǎng场
miàn面
。
Renting luxury cars and hiring a band for the wedding is just to put on a front.
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Tā他
míng明
míng明
shǒu手
tóu头
jǐn紧
，
hái还
yào要
jiè借
qián钱
qǐng请
kè客
，
chún纯
cuì粹
shì是
bēng绷
chǎng场
miàn面
。
He's clearly short on cash, yet he's borrowing money to treat guests—it's purely to keep up appearances.
Bié别
bēng绷
chǎng场
miàn面
le了
，
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
shì是
zì自
jǐ己
rén人
，
suí随
biàn便
chī吃
diǎn点
jiù就
xíng行
。
Don't put on a front, we're all like family, just have a simple meal.