APAD: Keeping up with the Joneses

Meaning:

To strive to match one's neighbors

 

Background:

 

It's not clear when this expression first appeared but it was popularized by

Arthur R "Pop" Momand's Keeping Up With the Joneses comic strip that ran for 26

years from 1913 and was distributed by Associated Newspapers.

 

Although some see the Joneses as simply a generic for the family next door,

others make a connection to the exceptionally rich family of Edith Wharton (born

Edith Jones) who were prominent in New York Society and were one of the first to

build a grand country villa in the Hudson Valley; others followed suit, with

each house becoming grander than the last.

 

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Keeping up with the Joneses certainly won't hurt capitalism. I don't see it

right or wrong. I welcome and try to exploit it in others, don't always succeed,

but that's another matter.

 

For my own sanity, however, I've found it useful to recall once in a while: "If

you live in harmony with nature you will never be poor; if you live according to

what others think, you will never be rich." from Seneca the Younger.

为自己活着

That's a tall order, too :-) But one gets to choose.

Nope, Joneses don't sound next door 2me, dow or jonese

industrial magnates 2 me

Keep up withJoneses won't hurt capitalism hurt my capital

There are even some books about it, e.g., "Beat the Dow."

so how about the book, useful or useless? :))

Like all great books on investing, the message is insightful

but it's the execution that matters.

If we live with Joneses in the same community, it won’t be

too hard to keep up with them then. lol

Our only "Keeping up with the Jones" item is Xmas lites ;-)

just a small section for the small front window.

By "lite," do you mean "beer with relatively few calories"?

How so? By paying a big mortgage?

the only meaning for the word as a noun in my 2 dictionaries

made it up for lights, just for fun ;-)

I suspected and just wanted to make sure :-) Remembered

TCP-lite and BSD-lite.

Another name carrying special meaning, like Joe, or Karen

Good to know that Joneses may connect to a rich lady.

That's right. Met them all :-))

The detail helps retaining the phrase.

"If you live according to what others think, you will never

be rich", so just be yourself :)

“Keeping up with the Joneses” 是褒义的，还是贬义的？能把这句话的中文翻译分享一下吗？谢谢。

I think it's negative. Translating is frustrating to me.

ChatGPT may be able to help but I've never used it :-)

我刚刚和ChatGPT进行了交流，ChatGPT译为“追赶琼斯”，详见里面：

ChatGPT
The proverb "Keeping up with the Joneses" means trying to match or surpass the lifestyle, possessions, or social status of one's neighbors or peers. It suggests a tendency to compare oneself with others and strive for a similar level of success or material well-being.

User
Is it positive or negative?

ChatGPT
The proverb "Keeping up with the Joneses" is often used in a negative context. It implies that the act of constantly comparing oneself to others and striving to match their lifestyle or possessions can lead to unnecessary competition, financial strain, and dissatisfaction. It highlights the potential downsides of materialistic and competitive attitudes.

User
Please translate the proverb into Chinese.

ChatGPT
The proverb "Keeping up with the Joneses" can be translated into Chinese as:

追赶琼斯 (Zhuīgǎn Qióngsī)

Please note that translations may vary, and different regions or Chinese speakers may have slightly different renditions.

 

Thank you!

You're welcome. Google Translate 译为：“跟上琼斯的步伐”。

我个人感觉，某些Proverb的中文翻译可能需要将直译和意译结合起来才能把其内在的含义完全表达出来。

我的译文是：“攀比琼斯”。

Nice!

赞认真钻研的态度，学习了～～