Meaning trap
keep up
maintain standards
To continue to meet a required level of quality, performance, or behaviour, especially when it is difficult to do so.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To continue to meet a required level of quality, performance, or behaviour, especially when it is difficult to do so.
'keep up' also has the more basic meaning 'maintain the same pace'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- It's becoming increasingly difficult for small businesses to keep up the high standards their customers expect.work
- In order to remain competitive, companies must constantly innovate and keep up high standards across all departments.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: keep up (with) + standards/quality/performance
WrongKeep up with the good work!
RightKeep up the good work!
This 'maintain a standard' sense takes a direct object — 'keep up the good work' (no 'with'). 'With' is for matching a pace.
Patternkeep up (with) + standards/quality/performance
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Keep up' naturally means sustain a level. 'Sustain such a high level of performance' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
keep up + standardthe good workstandardsappearancesthe pace of work
Don't confuse it
This sense is different from the B1 meaning ('maintain the same pace'), as it refers to sustaining a certain level of quality or standards, not just speed or movement. It is also distinct from the B2 sense ('stay informed'), which focuses on knowledge rather than performance or quality.
Related
- keep up (maintain the same pace) — 'keep up' also has the more basic meaning 'maintain the same pace'; this is the advanced sense.