keeping up with the joneses

"Keeping up with the Joneses" is an idiom that refers to the desire for individuals or families to compete with their neighbors or peers in terms of acquiring material possessions or achieving social status. It encapsulates the idea of living beyond one's means to match or surpass the lifestyle, possessions, or social standing of others, particularly those in one's immediate social circle. The phrase originated from a comic strip in the early 20th century, where the Joneses were depicted as the ideal, prosperous, and socially prominent family.