keep : Idioms & Phrases

• adverb for the winner to keep all
  
  • they played for keeps

WordNet

Home"-keep`ing adjective

Definitions

1. Staying at home; not gadding.

   Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits. Shak.

Home"-keep`ing noun

Definitions

1. A staying at home.

Webster 1913

• verb keep informed
  follow; keep abreast.
  
  • He kept up on his country's foreign policies

WordNet

• verb follow with the eyes or the mind
  watch over; follow; observe; watch.
  
  • Keep an eye on the baby, please!
  • The world is watching Sarajevo
  • She followed the men with the binoculars

WordNet

• verb set apart from others
  sequester; set apart; isolate; sequestrate.
  
  • The dentist sequesters the tooth he is working on

WordNet

• verb prevent from coming close
  
  • I tried to keep the child away from the pool

WordNet

• verb keep under control; keep in check
  restrain; hold back; keep.
  
  • suppress a smile
  • Keep your temper
  • keep your cool
• verb secure and keep for possible future use or application
  retain; hold; hold back.
  
  • The landlord retained the security deposit
  • I reserve the right to disagree
• verb hold back; refuse to hand over or share
  withhold.
  
  • The father is withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room

WordNet

• verb be a companion to somebody
  company; accompany; companion.
  

WordNet

• verb place a limit on the number of
  number.
  
• verb put down by force or intimidation
  subdue; reduce; repress; quash; subjugate.
  
  • The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
  • China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
  • The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
• verb manage not to throw up
  

WordNet

• verb continue uninterrupted
  run on.
  
  • The disease will run on unchecked
  • The party kept going until 4 A.M.
• verb suffice for a period between two points
  tide over; bridge over.
  
  • This money will keep us going for another year
• verb be a regular customer or client of
  patronage; support; patronise; patronize.
  
  • We patronize this store
  • Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could

WordNet

• verb watch over so as to protect
  stand guard; stand watch; stand sentinel.
  
  • We must stand sentinel to protect ourselves
  • The jewels over which they kept guard were stolen

WordNet

• verb cause to stay indoors
  

WordNet

• verb control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one's advantage
  control; manipulate.
  
  • She manipulates her boss
  • She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up
  • The teacher knew how to keep the class in line
  • she keeps in line

WordNet

• verb refuse to talk or stop talking; fall silent
  shut up; close up; belt up; button up; clam up; be quiet; dummy up.
  
  • The children shut up when their father approached

WordNet

• verb maintain in the forefront of one's awareness
  
  • He kept note of the location of the soldiers

WordNet

• verb refrain from certain foods or beverages
  avoid.
  
  • I keep off drugs
  • During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day
• verb refrain from entering or walking onto
  stay off.
  
  • keep off the grass
  • stay off the premises

WordNet

• verb allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
  retain; continue; keep.
  
  • We cannot continue several servants any longer
  • She retains a lawyer
  • The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
  • Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
  • We kept the work going as long as we could
  • She retained her composure
  • this garment retains its shape even after many washings

WordNet

• verb stay clear of, avoid
  keep one's eyes off; stay away; stand back; keep one's distance.
  
  • Keep your hands off my wife!
  • Keep your distance from this man--he is dangerous

WordNet

• verb stay clear of, avoid
  keep one's eyes off; stay away; stand back; keep one's distance.
  
  • Keep your hands off my wife!
  • Keep your distance from this man--he is dangerous

WordNet

• verb pay attention; be watchful
  keep one's eyes peeled; keep one's eyes open.
  
  • Keep your eyes peeled for any policemen

WordNet

• verb pay attention; be watchful
  keep one's eyes peeled; keep one's eyes open.
  
  • Keep your eyes peeled for any policemen

WordNet

• verb pay attention; be watchful
  keep one's eyes peeled; keep one's eyes open.
  
  • Keep your eyes peeled for any policemen

WordNet

• verb stay clear of, avoid
  keep one's eyes off; stay away; stand back; keep one's distance.
  
  • Keep your hands off my wife!
  • Keep your distance from this man--he is dangerous

WordNet

• verb refrain from divulging sensitive information; keep quiet about confidential information
  shut one's mouth; keep one's mouth shut.
  
  • Don't tell him any secrets--he cannot keep his mouth shut!

WordNet

• verb work doggedly or persistently
  peg away; slog; plug away; keep one's nose to the grindstone.
  
  • She keeps plugging away at her dissertation

WordNet

• verb work doggedly or persistently
  peg away; slog; plug away; keep one's nose to the grindstone.
  
  • She keeps plugging away at her dissertation

WordNet

• verb retain rights to
  save; keep; hold open.
  
  • keep my job for me while I give birth
  • keep my seat, please
  • keep open the possibility of a merger

WordNet

• verb prevent from entering; shut out
  exclude; shut out; shut.
  
  • The trees were shutting out all sunlight
  • This policy excludes people who have a criminal record from entering the country
• verb remain outside
  

WordNet

• verb maintain the same pace
  keep pace.
  
  • The child cannot keep step with his big brother

WordNet

• verb refrain from divulging sensitive information; keep quiet about confidential information
  shut one's mouth; keep one's mouth shut.
  
  • Don't tell him any secrets--he cannot keep his mouth shut!

WordNet

• verb maintain the same pace
  keep pace.
  
  • The child cannot keep step with his big brother

WordNet

• verb keep a record on or watch attentively
  
  • The government keeps tabs on the dissidents

WordNet

• verb shun the company of others
  
  • The new student keeps to herself
• verb withhold information
  
  • I kept your little secret to myself all these years

WordNet

• verb keep informed of fully aware
  
  • I keep track of the stock market developments

WordNet

• verb maintain a required pace or level
  
  • He could not keep up and dropped out of the race
• verb lengthen or extend in duration or space
  prolong; sustain.
  
  • We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible
  • prolong the treatment of the patient
  • keep up the good work
• verb keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction
  preserve; maintain; conserve.
  
  • We preserve these archeological findings
  • The old lady could not keep up the building
  • children must be taught to conserve our national heritage
  • The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts
• verb keep informed
  follow; keep abreast.
  
  • He kept up on his country's foreign policies
• verb prevent from going to bed at night
  
  • The anticipation of the trip kept the children up all night
  • I kept myself up all night studying for the exam

WordNet

• adjective satellite kept in good condition
  maintained; kept up.
  

WordNet

• noun an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
  mistress; fancy woman.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite not in keeping with what is correct or proper
  unfitting; incompatible; inappropriate.
  
  • completely inappropriate behavior

WordNet

Safe"-keep"ing noun

Etymology

Safe + keep.

Definitions

1. The act of keeping or preserving in safety from injury or from escape; care; custody.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To be close or near; as, to keep a ship in with the land. (b) To be on terms of friendship, familiarity, or intimacy with; to secure and retain the favor of. Colloq.

Webster 1913

• to keep up one's courage. Slang

Webster 1913

• to watch.

Webster 1913

• to keep at a distance (literally or figuratively); not to allow to come into close contact or familiar intercourse.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To reserve; to withhold . "I will keep nothing back from you." Jer. xlii. 4. (b) To restrain; to hold back. "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins." Ps. xix. 13.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To frequent the society of; to associate with; as, let youth keep company with the wise and good. (b) To accompany; to go with; as, to keep company with one on a voyage; also, to pay court to, or accept attentions from, with a view to marriage . Colloq.

Webster 1913

• ∨

Webster 1913

• to reveal nothing. Low

Webster 1913

• . (a) To hold in subjection; to restrain; to hinder . (b) (Fine Arts) To subdue in tint or tone, as a portion of a picture, so that the spectator's attention may not be diverted from the more important parts of the work.

Webster 1913

• to abstain or refrain from.

Webster 1913

• to be customarily early (or late) in returning home or in retiring to rest.

Webster 1913

• to be regular in going to bed early.

Webster 1913

• to maintain an independent domestic establishment.
• . (a) To occupy a separate house or establishment, as with one's family, as distinguished from boarding; to manage domestic affairs . (b) (Eng. Bankrupt Law) To seclude one's self in one's house in order to evade the demands of creditors.

Webster 1913

• to keep on good terms with; as, to keep in with an opponent.

Webster 1913

• to go forward; to proceed; to continue to advance.

Webster 1913

• to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity.

Webster 1913

• to keep in practice.

Webster 1913

• to keep afloat; fig., to avoid failure or sinking in the struggles of life. Colloq.

Webster 1913

• to keep one's thoughts, purposes, etc., undisclosed.

Webster 1913

• to entertain friends at all times.
• to be hospitable.

Webster 1913

• . See Quarter, n., 3.

Webster 1913

• to govern, manage and instruct or teach a school, as a preceptor.

Webster 1913

• to stay in concealment; also, to be reticent. Slang

Webster 1913

• to make strokes in unison.

Webster 1913

• . (a) (Eng. Universities) To reside during a term . (b) (Inns of Court) To eat a sufficient number of dinners in hall to make the term count for the purpose of being called to the bar . Eng. Mozley & W.

Webster 1913

• to preserve a composed or natural look, undisturbed by passion or emotion. Swift.

Webster 1913

• . (a) (Mil.) To continue a campaign. (b) To maintain one's ground against all comers.

Webster 1913

• (Script.), to preserve decorum. "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God." Eccl. v. 1.

Webster 1913

• to hug the shore.

Webster 1913

• (Law), to avoid or to prevent a breach of the peace.

Webster 1913

• to keep going on actively, as in certain games. Colloq.

Webster 1913

• to keep away poverty; to prevent starvation. See Wolf, 3, above. Tennyson.

Webster 1913

• to adhere strictly to; not to neglect or deviate from; as, to keep to old customs; to keep to a rule; to keep to one's word or promise.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To be true or punctual to a promise or engagement Obs.; hence, to fulfill duly a function.

  My mind and senses keep touch and time. Sir W. Scott.

  (b) To keep in contact; to maintain connection or sympathy;-with with or of.

Webster 1913

• to hold in subjection; hence, to oppress.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To maintain; to prevent from falling or diminution; as, to keep up the price of goods; to keep up one's credit . (b) To maintain; to continue; to prevent from ceasing . "In joy, that which keeps up the action is the desire to continue it."
• to remain unsubdued; also, not to be confined to one's bed.

Webster 1913

• not to exceed or pass beyond assigned limits; to act with propriety or discretion .

Webster 1913

• to take care; to heed. Obs. Chaucer.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite kept in good condition
  maintained; kept up.
  
• adjective satellite of places; characterized by order and neatness; free from disorder
  trim; shipshape.
  
  • even the barn was shipshape
  • a trim little sailboat

WordNet