keep up — maintain standards
To continue to meet a required level of quality, performance, or behaviour, especially when it is difficult to do so.
Say it like a native
Textbook It is difficult to sustain such a high level of performance.
Native It's hard to keep up that standard.
'Keep up' naturally means sustain a level. 'Sustain such a high level of performance' is formal.
Pattern: keep up (with) + standards/quality/performance
In use
- 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
Common mistake
✗ Keep up with the good work!
✓ Keep 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.
Common collocations
keep up + standard— the good work, standards, appearances, the 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.