IdiomDaily Life
Spanish
Spanishsalvar las apariencias
Meaning: To maintain an outward show of respectability or normalcy despite underlying problems.
Literally: To save the appearances
Example: “Siguieron sonriendo en la boda para salvar las apariencias.” — They kept smiling at the wedding to keep up appearances.
English equivalent: To keep up appearances
Equivalents in other languages
English: keep up appearances
Origin: Saving appearances is protecting the outward look of respectability while something less presentable goes on behind it. Spanish also says guardar or mantener las apariencias, and English "keep up appearances" or "save face" covers the same ground. No particular story lies behind it.
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