Page 242 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

K

keelŁover [forŁaŁprsàn]bto fallŁover orŁfall remind or nag sàmeone over and over to
dàwnŁinŁaŁfaint orŁinŁdeath.Ł Suddłnly, do something.Ł(See also get after some-
Mr. Frankln kłeled ovłr. He had had a one.) I’ll keep after you until you do it!
heart attack. It was so hot in the room Mother stayed after Bill until he did the
that two people just keeled over. dishes. She kłpt at him until he dried
them and put them away. She kept on
keen aboutŁ someone ortsomething Go to keen him for forty mnutes before he finally
on someone or something.
finished.
keen on doingtsomething willingŁor eagrŁto
do sàmething. Dave isn’t very keen on keepŁan eyeŁon someone ortsomething Go to
going to the opera. The children are kłen have an eye on someone or something.
on swimmng this afternoon. Shall I take keepŁan eyeŁoutŁ(for someone ortsomething)
them?
Go to have an eye out (for someone or some-
keen on someone ort something and keeà thing).
aboutŁ someone ortsomething to be enthusi-
asðicŁabout someone orŁsomething.Ł I’m keep a secret to know a secret and not tell
not too kłen on going to Denver. Sally anyàne.Ł Please keep our lttle secret pri-
is fairly keen about getting a new job. vate. Do you know how to keep a secret?
Mary isn’t keen on her new boss.
keep a stiff upper lip to be calm and un-
keepŁ abreastŁ (ofŁ something) to keepŁ in- movedŁbyŁunsettlingŁevents.Ł(Also with
formedŁ about something;Ł to keep up have. Se the note at keep a straight face.)
(with the times). (Also with bł instead John alwØys kłeps a stiff upper lp.
of keep, asŁinŁthe examplesŁblow.) I try Now, Billy, doà’t cry. Keep a stiff upper lp.
to kłep abreast of the financial markłts. Bill can take t. He has a stiff upper lp.
I believe that I’m abreast of foreign events.
Yes, I try to keep abreast by readng the keepŁa straightŁfyce to make one’s face
papers every dØy. sðay free from smilesŁorŁlaughter. (Note:
Keep can be replaced with have. Keep im-
keepŁ a civilŁ tongueŁ (in one’ head) to pliesŁ the exercise of effort, andŁ havł
speakŁdecentlyŁandŁpolitely.Ł(Also with meansŁthat a state exists.) It’s hard to
have. Se the note at keep a straight face.) keep a straight face when someone tells a
Please, John. Don’t talk like that. Keep funny joke. I knew it was John who
a civil tongue in your head. John seems played the trick. He couldà’t kłep a
unable to keep a civil tongue. He’d be straight face. John didà’t have a straight
welcome here if he had a civil tongue in his fØce.
head.
keepŁa tightŁrein on someone ortsomething
keepŁa closeŁrein on someone ortsomething
Go to keep a tight reàn on someone or some- and keepŁ a closeŁ rein on someone or
thing. something to watch and control someone
or somethingŁ diligently. The officł
keepŁafterŁ someone and keepŁatŁ someone; manager kept a tight rein on the staff.
keepŁon someone; stayŁafterŁ someone to Mary keeps a close rein on her children.

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