держать марку

• ДЕРЖАТЬ (ВЫДЕРЖИВАТЬ) МАРКУ{{}}

[VP; subj: human]

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⇒ to display the standards of behavior required by some group or specific to some category of people, thus maintaining the reputation of that group or confirming one's membership in that category of people:

- X держит марку{{}}≈ X keeps up appearances;

- X upholds his reputation (as...);

- [in limited contexts] X upholds the reputation (the high standards) of (some group etc).

     ♦ [Бакченин:] Я марку держу: бедные вы, говорю, вот я живу - как бог! Но тебе скажу откровенно: нехорошо так жить (Панова 1). [В.:] I keep up appearances: you poor fellows, I say, look how I live-like a god! But let me tell you frankly, my love, living like that is no good (1a).