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what is the origin of the phrase "keeping up with the joneses?"
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the phrase "keeping up with the joneses" originated in 1913 as the title of a comic strip by arthur r. "pop" momand. in the comic strip, two families, the smiths and the joneses, were portrayed as two middle-class families that were constantly competing to one-up each other in possessions and appearances. the phrase has since come to describe the constant striving for material possessions that reflect social class and comparison to one's peers.
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