pretend to be what one is not; keep up appearances
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
pretend to be capable/rich; keep up appearances
informalA metaphor for people who, lacking true ability or wealth, go to great lengths to maintain a facade, often at their own expense. It implies foolish pride and short-sightedness. Often used in informal, critical contexts.
Tā他
méi没
jǐ几
gè个
qián钱
，
què却
fēi非
yào要
qǐng请
quán全
bù部
mén门
chī吃
fàn饭
，
zhēn真
shì是
dǎ打
zhǒng肿
liǎn脸
chōng充
pàng胖
zi子
。
He doesn't have much money but insisted on treating the whole department to a meal, really just pretending to be a big shot.
Bié别
dǎ打
zhǒng肿
liǎn脸
chōng充
pàng胖
zi子
le了
，
dà大
jiā家
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
gāng刚
shī失
yè业
。
Stop pretending to be well-off; everyone knows you just lost your job.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Tā他
wèi为
le了
miàn面
zi子
dài贷
kuǎn款
mǎi买
háo豪
chē车
，
diǎn典
xíng型
de的
dǎ打
zhǒng肿
liǎn脸
chōng充
pàng胖
zi子
。
He took out a loan to buy a luxury car for the sake of face, a classic case of keeping up appearances.