maintain appearances
Keep up pretenses
To maintain appearances is to act in ways that preserve how others perceive you, especially when reality contradicts the image: They maintained appearances even as the marriage fell apart.
The phrase often implies concealment—keeping up a facade of normalcy, success, or propriety despite private struggles.
Sometimes shortened to keep up appearances.
- save faceProtect one's reputation
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- damage controlLimiting further harm
- poker faceIntentionally expressionless look
- stiff upper lipControlled emotional restraint
put on a brave face · conformity · etiquette · camouflage · decorum · public image · keeping up with the Joneses · disguise · emotional labor · compartmentalization · social norms · reputation · pretense · going through the motions · denial · obfuscation · swept under the rug · behind closed doors
maintain appearancesbe authentic
Act without pretense
be yourself · show one's true colors · drop the mask · bare one's soul · come clean
maintain appearanceslet oneself go
Cease self-restraint
throw caution to the wind · rebel · go against the grain · make waves
maintain appearancescome clean
Admit the full truth
tell it like it is · lay bare · confess · open up · spill the beans
maintain, appearances, appearance, appear, appears, appeared, appearing, disappear, disappears