keep the home fires burning
Sustain household morale
To keep the home fires burning is to maintain domestic life and stability while others are away, especially during wartime or extended absence.
The phrase originated during World War I and carries connotations of loyalty, perseverance, and emotional support for those who have left: She kept the home fires burning while he was deployed overseas.
It now applies more broadly to anyone sustaining a household or enterprise in another's absence.
- keep the lights onMaintain minimum viable functioning
- keep the wolf from the doorAvoid poverty or starvation
- preserveProtect from loss
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
comfort · perseverance · hope · warmth · morale · stiff upper lip · carry on · wartime · solidarity · maintenance · continuity · home front · war effort · ration book · security · courage · support network · endurance
keep the home fires burningabandon ship
Evacuate a sinking vessel
close up shop · drop the ball · scatter to the winds · uproot
keep the home fires burningDear John letter
Written romantic rejection
infidelity · faithlessness · desert · forsake · turn one's back
keep the home fires burningleave home
Depart from one's residence
run away · cut ties · burn one's bridges · hit the road · flee
keeping, keeper, keepers, homing, homeland, homeward, homeless, homelessness, firing