Question

Choose the correct meaning of the given phrase.
“Keep up with”

a)hold in
b)maintain
c)not to fall behind
d)not to part asunder
e)refrain from

Answer 1

Hint: The phrase ‘keep up with’ means ‘move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else’.

Complete step-by-step answer:

The way to use the above phrase is as follows:
For example, in the sentence, ‘If you do not keep up with your payments, the loan company can make you sell your home.’ This means that if the person fails to pay regularly, there can be serious repercussions.
Now, let’s look at the given options:

a)hold in - The phrase ‘hold in’ means ‘to stop something from moving outwards’. This does not align with the given phrase. So, this is an incorrect option.
b)maintain - The word ‘maintain’ means ‘cause or enable (a condition or situation) to continue’. This meaning is not similar to the given phrase at all. So, this is an incorrect option.
c)not to fall behind - This phrase means ‘to not make progress or move forward as fast as others’. This meaning is similar to the given phrase. So, this is the correct option.
d)not to part asunder - This phrase means ‘not to break apart’. This meaning is not related to the given phrase. So, this is an incorrect option.
e)refrain from - This phrase means ‘to avoid doing something’. This phrase is unrelated to the phrase ‘keep up with’. So, this is an incorrect option.

By understanding the context that a certain phrase is used in, we can accurately guess its meaning.

Note: Try to understand the context of the given phrase and guess the meaning from the given options.