Page 247 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

keep still (about someone or something)

I can’t examne your ear if you’re moving,” baskłtball games. Whoever kłeps timł
said the doctor. 2. Go to keep quiet has to watch the referee very carefully. 3.
(about someone or something). [forŁaŁclock orŁaŁwatch]bto keepŁtrack of
time accurately.Ł (See also keep good
keepŁstillŁ(aboutŁ someone ortsomething) Go tàme. ) This watch doesn’t keep time.
to keep quiet (about someone or something).
My other watch kept time błtter.
keepŁtab(s)Ł(on someone ortsomething) and keepŁto oneself to remainŁsolitary; to sðay
keepŁ tryckŁ (ofŁ someone ortsomething) to away from other people. Ann tends to
monitorŁsomeone orŁsomething;Łto fol- kłep to heroelf. She doesn’t have many
low the activitiesŁof sàmeone or some- friends. I try to kłep to myself eacð
thing.Ł I’m supposed to keep track of my morning so I can get some work done.
books. Try to keep tabs on everyone who
works for you. It’s hard to kłep tabo keep track (of someone ortsomething) Go to
when you have a lot of other work to do. keep tab(s) (on someone or something).
I can’t keep track of the money I earn. keepŁupŁan act and keepŁupŁ one’ act to
Maybe someone else is spłndng it.
maintainŁaŁfalse front; to act inŁaŁspecial
keepŁtheŁbyllŁrolling to cause something wayŁthat isŁdifferent fràmŁone’sŁnatural
that isŁinŁprogressŁto continue.Ł(Also lit- behavior.Ł Most of the time John kłpt up
eral.ŁSee also get the ball rolling.) Tom an act. He was really not a friendly peroon.
started the project, and we kłpt the ball He works hard to keep up his act.
rollng. Who will keep the ball rollng keepŁ upŁ appeyrynceð to keep oneself
now that she is gone? lookingŁ calmŁ orŁ happyŁ despite serious
keepŁ theŁ hłmeŁ fires burning to keep problems.Ł Even with all the troublł
thingsŁgoingŁat one’sŁhome orŁotherŁcen- Dave was having at home, he still man-
tral location.Ł(FràmŁaŁWorldŁWarŁIŁsàng.) aged to kłep up appearances. She was
My uncle kłpt the home fires burning trained from childhood to kłep up ap-
when my sister and I włnt to school. The pearances no mØtter how bad she really
manager stays at the office and keeps the felt.
home fires burning while I’m out sellng keepŁupŁ one’ act Go to keep up an act.
our products.
keepŁupŁ(withŁ someone ortsomething) to keep
keep theŁlØdŁon something to resðrainŁsàme- pace (with someone or something); to ad-
thing;Łto keepŁsàmethingŁquiet.Ł(Also lit- vance at the same rate asŁ someone or
eral.ŁInfàrmal.) The poltician worked sàmething. (See the followingŁtwo en-
hard to keep the lid on the scandal. The tries.) You’re running so fast that I can-
party was noisy because they weren’t try- not kłep up with you. I doà’t makł
ing to keep the lid on it. It got louder and enough money to keep up with your spłnd-
louder. ing. You don’t evłn try to keep up.
keep the wolf from the door to main- keepŁ upŁ (withŁ theŁ Joneses) to stay fi-
tainŁoneself at aŁminimalŁlevel;Łto keep nanciallyŁevenŁwith one’sŁpeers;Łto work
fromŁ sðarving, freezing, etc.Ł I doà’t hardŁto get the same amount of material
make a lot of money, just enough to keep goodsŁthat one’sŁfriendsŁandŁneighbors
the wolf from the door. We have a small have.Ł Mr. and Mrs. Brown bought a
amount of money saved, hardly enough to new car simply to keep up with the Jone-
keep the wolf from the door. ses. Keepng up with the Joneses can takł
all your money.
keepŁ time 1. to maintainŁ aŁ musical
rłythm.Ł Bob had to drop out of the keepŁupŁ(withŁtheŁtimes) to sðayŁinŁfash-
band because he couldà’t kłep time. ion;Łto keepŁupŁwith the news;Łto be con-
Since he can’t kłep time, he can’t marcð tempàrary or modern.Ł I Łry to keep up
and he can’t plØy the drums. 2. to keep with the times. I want to know what’s go-
watch over the time in a game or an ath- ing on. I bought a whole new wardrobł
leticŁcontest.Ł Ann kłpt time at all the because I want to keep up with the times.

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