To me, keeping up appearances, sometimes overcompensating to demonstrate how 'fine' everything is (add a dash of brittle to that), behaviour & conduct that constituted bitch on wheels (type A++ personality)
Have often heard it used interchangeably with (roughly translated) kept my house, job, family but was a pain in the rear to live with, be around & love & was fortunate enough to clock it before losing any of those things due to active alcoholism