How would you interpret the phrase “keep up” here? Dear Shepherd, All right pal, keep your hair on. Probably this is not going to be the salutations you’ve been waiting for. Merry Xmas and all that. Things have changed here, it can’t be helped. I collared a job in ads. No fish! Me myself, in an office full of neck ties, and let me tell you, these cats are steaming. I don’t want to be the jerk that can’t keep up. … How would you interpret the phrase “keep up” in the last sentence “…can’t keep up”? Thanks. And this excerpt is taken from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.