Question

Select the meaning of the phrase/idiom.
Keep up.
a)Maintain
b)Leave behind
c)Confirm
d)Accept

Answer 1

Hint: Idiom refers to a group of words or a phrase that has a different meaning from the literal meaning of its words.

Complete step-by-step answer:

Keep up refers to maintaining something the way it is. This idiom first appeared as a phrase- ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’, coined by cartoonist Arthur in 1913.
We know the meaning and the origin of the given idiom, let’s look at its usage:
Example- You will have to study harder if you want to keep up. Here, we can understand that X needs to study harder in order to maintain his studies.
Now, let’s examine the given options:
a)Maintain- It means to sustain a situation the way it is. It has the same meaning as the given idiom. Hence, it is the correct option.
b)Leave behind- It means to abandon something. It has a different meaning from the given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
c)Confirm- It means to support the truth or accuracy of something. It has a different meaning from the given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
d)Accept- It means to acknowledge or recognize something as valid. It has a different meaning from the given idiom. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
The correct answer is Option ‘a’.

Note: Keep up is also used with an exclamation mark to express appreciation or to lay emphasis on action.