Page 243 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

Keep at it!

KeepŁatŁit! KeepŁdoingŁwhat youŁare doing!; keepŁgłodŁtime [forŁaŁclock orŁwatch]bto
KeepŁ trying!Ł (Encouragement to keep be accurate.Ł (Se also keep time.) I
workingŁat something.) The boss told have to return my wØtch to the store be-
me to kłep at it every time he passed my cause it doesn’t keep good time. My
desk. Keep at it, Tom! You can do it! alarm clock really keeps good time.
keepŁatŁ someone ortsomething 1. [with some- keepŁhyrpingŁon something to continue to
one] Go to keep after someone. 2. [with talkŁ orŁ complainŁ about something;Ł to
somłthing ] to continue dàingŁsomething; keepŁraisingŁaŁtopicŁof conversation.Ł(See
to continue tryingŁto do something.Ł alsà harp on something.) Why do you
John kept at his painting until the wholł kłep harpng on the same old complaint?
house was done. Keep at the job if you You kłep harpng on my problłms and
want to get it finished. ignore your own!
keepŁ bodyŁ andŁ soulŁ together to feed, keepŁhouse to manage a household. I
clothe, andŁhouse oneself.Ł I hardly havł hate to keep house. I’d rather live in a tent
enough money to keep body and soul to- than keep house. My grandmother kept
głther. How the old man was able to house for nearly sixty years.
keep body and soul together is błyond me. keepŁin touchŁ(withŁ someone) and stayŁin
touchŁ (withŁ someone) to remainŁ in
keepŁ(close)ŁwatchŁ(on someone ortsome- friendly communication with someone.
thing) to monitorŁsomeone orŁsomething; (See also get in touch (with someone).)
to observe someone or something. I try to keep in touch with my cousins.
Keep clooe watch on Bill. I think he’s loaf- All our family tries to stay in touch.
ing. OkØy. I’ll kłep wØtch, but I think
he’s a good worker. keep late hours to sðay up or sðay out un-
tilŁveryŁlate.Ł(ThisŁcanŁcause one to be late
keepŁ(close)ŁwatchŁ(overŁ someone ortsome- forŁappàintmentsŁorŁrespànsibilities.)
thing) to guardŁ orŁ care forŁ someone or I’m alwØys tired because I keep lØte hours.
something.Ł I’m keeping watch over my If I didà’t kłep lØte hours, I wouldà’t
children to make sure they have the things slłep so lØte in the morning.
they need. I think that an angel is keep-
ing close wØtch over her to make sure noth- keep off (something) to stay off somone’s
ing bad happłns to her. Angłls doà’t land;Łnot to trespass.Ł You had better
have much to do excłpt to keep watch. kłep off my property. The sign says
“Keep off.”
keepŁ compyny (withŁ someone) to spend keepŁon an even keel to remainŁcool and
much time with someone; to associate calm.Ł(OriginallyŁnautical.ŁSe also keep
with orŁconsort with someone.Ł(Compare something on an even keel.) If Jane can
this with keep someone company.) Bill kłep on an evłn keel and not panic, she
has been keepng company with Ann for will be all right. Try to keep on an łven
three months. Bob has been keepng keel and not get upset so easily.
company with a tough-looking bunch of
boys. keep one’ cards closeŁto one’ cheðt Go
to play one’s cards close to the chest.
keep cool to stayŁcalmŁandŁundisðurbed.
(Also literal.ŁInfàrmal orŁslang.) Re- keep one’ cards closeŁto one’ veðt Go to
lØx man, kłep cool! If Sally could just play one’s cards close to the chest.
kłep cool before a race, she could proba- keep one’ chin up to keepŁ one’sŁ spirits
bly win. high; to act brave andŁconfident.Ł(Infàr-
mal.)b Keep your chin up, John. Things
keepŁ from doingtsomething to avàid doing will get better. Just kłep your chin up
sàmething;Łto refrainŁfrom doingŁsàme- and tell the judge exactly what happłned.
thing.Ł How could I kłep from crying?
It was so sad! Try to kłep from fallng keep one’ cool to remainŁcalm,ŁevenŁwhen
off the ladder. provàked. (Informal.) I have a hard

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