KEEP

(STAY) [verb] [past:] kept - to (cause to) stay in a particular place or conditionI wish you'd keep quiet. [L only +adjective]Having a cold shower is the only way to keep cool in this weather. [L only +adjective]I like to keep busy. [L only +adjective]Keep left (= Stay on the road that goes to the left) when you come to the fork, then take the second on the right. [L only +adjective]"Shall I move this painting to the other wall?" "No, keep it here/keep it where it is." [T]Can't you keep that dog of yours under control? [T]Close the door to keep the room warm. [T + object + adjective]The noise from their party kept me awake half the night. [T + object + adjective]He kept his eyes fixed on me while I spoke. [T + object + past participle]Keep away/back - it might be dangerous. [I usually + adverb or preposition]To keep someone is to delay them or prevent them from doing something.He's very late, what's keeping him? [T]Sorry for keeping you waiting (= for making you wait). [T + object + verb-ing]She kept me talking on the phone for half an hour. [T + object + verb-ing]Am I keeping you from your work? [T]If you keep something back you do not use it all or tell it all at the same time.When she told me about her illness, I was sure she was keeping something back/keeping back the truth.To keep the size or number of something down is to control it and prevent it from increasing.We need to work hard to keep our prices down.If you keep a person or group of people down, you prevent them from having any power or freedom.You can't keep a good woman down.If you say that you can't keep food or liquid down, you mean that you vomit when you eat or drink.On the day after her operation she couldn't keep anything down.If you keep something from someone, you do not tell them about it.I think he's keeping the extent of his illness from me.(esp. UK dated) If you ask someone how they are keeping, you are asking if they are well."How is your mother keeping?" [I usually + adverb or preposition]As a child Simon was often kept in after school (= forced to stay in school as a punishment). [T]The hospital kept her in overnight for observation (= asked her to stay so that they could decide what was wrong with her). [T]She likes to keep in with the fashionable crowd (= to stay friendly with them because she hopes to get some advantage). [I usually + adverb or preposition]There was a notice saying 'Keep off the grass' (= don't walk on the area of grass). [I usually + adverb or preposition]Wear a hat to keep the sun off (= to prevent it from reaching your skin). [M](esp. UK) If you keep off a particular subject, you avoid talking about it.A sign that says "Keep Out" is telling you not to enter a building or area of land.I prefer to keep out of (= avoid becoming involved in) arguments about money. [I usually + adverb or preposition]Keep this news to yourself (= do not tell anyone else). [T]If you keep a family, country, etc. together you stop the individuals or groups from separating.They tried to keep the family together for the sake of the children.I hope I'm not keeping you up (= preventing you from going to bed).If someone or something keeps up (with someone or something else), they do whatever is necessary to stay level or equal with that person or thing.He was walking so fast that I had to run to keep up (with him).Wages are failing to keep up with inflation. [I usually + adverb or preposition](figurative) I read the papers to keep up with (= to discover) what's happening in the outside world. [I usually + adverb or preposition]If you keep from something, you do not do it.I'm afraid I couldn't keep from smiling when she told me what she'd done.He's a very private person - he keeps himself to himself (= does not talk to other people very much).If you keep to a place, you stay there.Please keep to the left hand side of the stairs.If you keep to a subject or an agreement, you limit yourself to it.For heaven's sake let's keep to the point or we'll never reach any decisions.I've kept to my side of the agreement - it's you that's broken it.(disapproving) If you are trying to keep up with the Joneses you always want to own the same expensive possessions and do the same things as your friends or neighbours because you are worried about seeming less important socially than they are.(informal) If you tell someone to keep their shirt on/(UK) also keep their hair on, you are telling them to stop being so angry or upset.Keep your hair on! Your car isn't badly damaged!(UK and ANZ) Keep-fit (US and ANZ physical fitness or fitness) is the activity of keeping your body in good condition by doing physical exercises.Do you go to keep-fit (classes)?