Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[keep one's own counsel] <v. phr.>, <formal> To keep your ideas and plans to yourself. * /John listened to what everyone had to say in the discussion, but he kept his own counsel./ * /Although everybody gave Mrs. O'Connor advice about what to do with her house, she kept her own counsel./
[keep one's shirt on] <v. phr.>, <slang> To calm down; keep from losing your temper or getting impatient or excited. * /Bob got very angry when John accidentally bumped into him, but John told him to keep his shirt on./ - Usually used as a command; may be considered impolite. * /John said to Bob, "Keep your shirt on."/ Contrast: GET ONE'S DANDER UP.
[keep one's temper] See: HOLD ONE'S TEMPER.
[keep one's weather eye open] See: WEATHER EYE.
[keep one's wits about one] See: KEEP ONE'S HEAD.
[keep one's word] <v. phr.> To do what one has promised; fulfill one's promise. * /Paul kept his word and paid me the $250 that he owed me right on time./
[keep on the good side of] See: ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE.
[keep open house] <v. phr.> To offer hospitality and entertain those who come at any given time on a certain day or afternoon. * /Beth and Charlie have a cottage by the lake where they keep open house on Saturday afternoons during the summer./
[keep out (of)] <v. phr.> 1. To stay out; remain out of. * /The sign on the fence said, "Danger! Keep out!"/ 2. To stave off; not allow in. * /The border patrol near El Paso, Texas, is trying to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States./
[keep pace] <v. phr.> To go as fast; go at the same rate; not get behind. * /When they go for a walk, Johnny has to take long steps to keep pace with his father./ * /When Billy was moved to a more advanced class, he had to work hard to keep pace./ Compare: KEEP UP(2a).
[keep plugging along] <v. phr.>, <informal> To continue to work diligently and with great effort, often against hardship. * /Bob was not particularly talented but he kept plugging along year after year, and eventually became vice president./
[keeps] See: FOR KEEPS.
[keep step with] <v. phr.> To maintain the same degree of progress as someone else. * /The United States has no choice but to keep step with potential enemies in terms of modern defense systems./
[keep tab on] or [keep tabs on] <v. phr.>, <informal> 1. To keep a record of. * /The government tries to keep tabs on all the animals in the park./ 2. To keep a watch on; check. * /The house mother kept tabs on the girls to be sure they were clean and neat./ Compare: KEEP TRACK OF.
[keep the ball rolling] <v. phr.>, <informal> To keep up an activity or action; not allow something that is happening to slow or stop. * /Clyde kept the ball rolling at the party by dancing with a lamp shade on his head./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.
[keep the faith] <v. phr.> To not abandon hope; stay committed to the cause of democracy and racial equality. * /"Keep the faith, Baby," my neighbor said as he raised his fingers to show the "V" for victory sign./
[keep the home fires burning] <v. phr.> To keep things going as usual while someone is away; wait at home to welcome someone back. * /While John was in the army, Mary kept the home fires burning./
[keep the wolf (wolves) from the door] <v. phr.> To avoid hunger, poverty, and/or creditors. * /"I don't like my job," Mike complained, "but I must do something to keep the wolves from the door."/ Compare: KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.
[keep things humming] <v. phr.> To cause thing to perform smoothly and efficiently. * /Until Mr. Long joined our computer center, we had all sorts of problems, but he has corrected them and really keeps things humming./
[keep time] <v. phr.> 1. To show the right time. * /My watch has not kept good time since I dropped it./ 2. To keep the beat; keep the same rhythm; keep in step. * /Many people are surprised at how well deaf people keep time with the music when they dance./
[keep to oneself] See: TO ONESELF(2).
[keep track] <v. phr.> To know about changes; stay informed or up-to-date; keep a count or record. * /What day of the week is it? I can't keep track./ - Usually used with "of". * /Mr. Stevens kept track of his business by telephone when he was in the hospital./ * /The farmer has so many chickens, he can hardly keep track of them all./ Compare: IN TOUCH, KEEP UP(3). Contrast: LOSE TRACK.
[keep under one's hat] <v. phr.>, <informal> To keep secret; not tell. * /Mr. Jones knew who had won the contest, but he kept it under his hat until it was announced publicly./ - Often used as a command. * /Keep it under your hat./ Syn.: KEEP TO ONESELF.
[keep up] <v.> 1a. To go on; not stop; continue. * /The rain kept up for two days and the roads were flooded./ Compare: KEEP ON. 1b. To go on with (something); continue steadily; never stop. * /Mrs. Smith told John to keep up the good work./ * /The teacher asked Dick to stop bothering Mary, but he kept it up./ Compare: KEEP AT. 2a. To go at the same rate as others. * /John had to work hard to keep up./ * /Billy was the youngest boy on the hike, but he kept up with the others./ Compare: CATCH UP, KEEP PACE. Contrast: FALL BEHIND, GET BEHIND(1). 2b. To keep (something) at the same level or rate or in good condition. * /The shortage of tomatoes kept the prices up./ * /Grandfather was too poor to keep up his house./ 3. To keep informed.
– Usually used with "on" or "with". * /Mary is interested in politics and always keeps up with the news./ Compare: KEEP TRACK.
[keep up appearances] <v. phr.> To maintain an outward show of prosperity in spite of financial problems. * /Mr. Smith's widow had a hard time keeping up appearances after her husband's death./
[keep up one's end] See: HOLD ONE'S END UP.
[keep up with] See: KEEP STEP WITH, KEEP ABREAST OF.
[keep up with the Joneses] <v. phr.> To follow the latest fashion; try to be equal with your neighbors. * /Mrs. Smith kept buying every new thing that was advertised, finally Mr. Smith told her to stop trying to keep up with the Joneses and to start thinking for herself./