Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
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[keep a straight face] See: STRAIGHT FACE, DEADPAN.
[keep at]{v.} To continue to do; go on with. •/Mary kept at her homework until she finished it./ Compare: KEEP ON(1), KEEP UP(1b).
[keep away]{v. phr.} To remain at a distance from. •/Her mother advised Diane to keep away from men offering a ride./
[keep back]{v. phr.} To refrain or be restrained from entering; remain back. •/The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when the astronauts came to town after walking on the moon./
[keep body and soul together]{v. phr.} To keep alive; survive. •/John was unemployed most of the year and hardly made enough money to keep body and soul together./ Compare: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.
[keep books]{v. phr.} To keep records of money gained and spent; do the work of a bookkeeper. •/Miss Jones keeps the company’s books./
[keep company]{v. phr.} 1. To stay or go along with (someone) so that he will not be lonely to visit with (someone). •/John kept Andy company while his parents went to the movies./ •/I’ll go shopping with you just to keep you company./ 2. To go places together as a couple; date just one person. •/After keeping company for one year, Mary and John decided to marry./ •/Who is Bill keeping company with now?/ Compare: GO STEADY.
[keep cool]{v. phr.} Remain calm; remain unexcited. •/The main thing to remember in an emergency situation is to not lose one’s head and keep cool./
[keep down]{v.} Keep from progressing or growing; keep within limits; control. •/The children could not keep their voices down./ •/We hoe the garden to keep down the weeds./ •/You can’t keep a good man down./ Compare: GET AHEAD.
[keeper] See: FINDERS KEEPERS.
[keep from]{v.}, {informal} To hold yourself back from; stop or prevent yourself from (doing something). •/Can you keep from repeating gossip?/ •/Jill can’t keep from talking about her trip./ — Usually used with "can" in the negative. •/You can’t keep from liking Jim./ Compare: CAN HELP.
[keep good time] See: KEEP TIME.
[keep house(1)]{v. phr.} To do the necessary things in a household; do the cooking and cleaning. •/Since their mother died, Mary and her brother keep house for their father./
[keep house(2)] also [play house]{v. phr.}, {informal} To live together without being married. •/Bob and Nancy keep house these days./
[keeping] See: IN KEEPING, OUT OF KEEPING.
[keep in mind] See: IN MIND.
[keep in touch with]{v. phr.} To remain in communication with; maintain contact with. •/Don’t forget to keep in touch, either by letter or phone, when you’re in Europe!/
[keep late hours]{v. phr.} To go to bed late; habitually stay up (and work) late. •/"If you always keep such late hours, your health might suffer," Tom’s doctor said./
[keep off]{v. phr.} To refrain from entering; stay away from. •/"Keep off the grass," the sign in the park indicated./
[keep on]{v.} 1. To go ahead; not stop; continue. •/The neighbors asked them to stop making noise, but they kept right on./ •/Columbus kept on until he saw land./ — Often used before a present participle. •/Relentlessly, the boy kept on asking about the birds and the bees./ •/The boy kept on talking even though the teacher had asked him to stop./ Syn.: GO ON. Compare: KEEP AT, KEEP UP. 2. To allow to continue working for you. •/The new owner kept Fred on as gardener./
[keep one at a distance] or [keep one at arm’s length]{v. phr.} To avoid (someone’s) company; not become too friendly toward. •/Mr. Smith is kind to the workers in his store but after work he keeps them at a distance./ •/Betty likes Bill and is trying to be friendly, but he keeps her at arm’s length./ Compare: KEEP ONE’S DISTANCE, HOLD OFF(1a).
[keep (one) posted]{v. phr.} To receive current information; inform oneself. •/My associates phoned me every day and kept me posted on new developments in our business./
[keep one’s balance]{v. phr.} To stay even-tempered; not become overexcited. •/Mike has the best personality to run our office; he always keeps his balance./ Contrast: LOSE ONE’S BALANCE.
[keep one’s chin up]{v. phr.} To be brave; be determined; face trouble with courage. •/He didn’t think that he would ever get out of the jungle alive, but he kept his chin up./ Compare: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP.
[keep one’s distance]{v. phr.} To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. •/Mary did not like her co-worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her./ Compare: KEEP ONE AT A DISTANCE.
[keep one’s end up] See: HOLD ONE’S END UP.
[keep one’s eye on] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.
[keep one’s eye on the ball]{v. phr.} 1. To watch the ball at all times in a sport, usually in order to hit it or get it; not stop watching the ball. •/Keep your eye on the baseball or you won’t be able to hit it./ 2. {informal} To be watchful and ready; be wide-awake and ready to win or succeed; be smart. •/Tom is just starting on the job but if he keeps his eye on the ball, he will be promoted./ Compare: ON THE BALL, KEEP AN EYE ON or KEEP ONE’S EYE ON or HAVE ONE’S EYE ON.