keep someone at bay —(also: hold someone at bay) maintain a safe distance from smb.; prevent a person from acting: These people come from sick, evil families and we good Americans are trying to keep them at bay. keep the wolf at bay—manage to make enough money to avoid going hungry or falling heavily into […]
Difference between Keep oneself dark and Keep someone in the dark
keep oneself dark—be characterized by inconspicuous behavior; keep out of the public eye: He hid himself … kept himself dark, as he says, out of the way and out of the trial. keep someone in the dark—keep a person in ignorance about smth.: He is prepared to do things his own way and to keep […]
Difference between Keep one’s shirt on and Lose one’s shirt
keep one’s shirt on—(coll.) remain calm; keep one’s temper (also: hold one’s shirt): I told him to keep his shirt on, no matter what the provocation. lose one’s shirt—lose all one’s money (as a result of gambling, etc.): Everybody knows that John lost his shirt when that business he had invested in failed.
Difference between Keep one’s pecker up and Put someone’s pecker up
keep one’s pecker up—(UK coll.) keep one’s spirits up: Charles could not eat, in spite of the rough kindness of one of the warders, who adjured him to keep his pecker up. put someone’s pecker up—(coll.) make smb. angry; put a person out of temper: He thinks he can do what he likes with I […]
Difference between Keep one’s peace and Keep the peace
keep one’s peace— 1. (also: hold one’s peace) refrain from arguing; remain silent: He told one lie after another, and it was only with the greatest effort that I was able to keep my peace. 2. (of a country) refrain from military action: Imperialism had a very small part in the history of Japan. Before […]
Difference between Keep one’s pants on and Wear the pants
keep one’s pants on—(coll.) remain calm; keep one’s temper (also: keep one’s shirt on): Always remember to keep your pants on in times of stress. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase catch someone with his pants down—(sl.) catch a person off guard: Rachel’s telephone call hadn’t caught me with my […]
Difference between Keep one’s name on the books and See one’s name in print
keep one’s name on the books—retain one’s membership in a club, etc.: He said he was not much of a Mason—he scarcely ever went; just kept his name on the books by paying up his dues. see one’s name in print— 1. be a published author: “Pray, Anne,” said he, “did you ever experience the […]
Difference between Keep one’s mouth shut and Not open one’s mouth
keep one’s mouth shut—not talk about smth.; not reveal a secret: Keep your eyes skinned, there’s a good girl, and, incidentally, keep your mouth shut. not open one’s mouth—say nothing; remain silent: By the fact that she did not open her mouth, she acknowledged her guilt.
Difference between Keep one’s lid on and Keep the lid on someone
keep one’s lid on—(coll.) keep one’s temper; be patient: Keep your lids on, folks; we’ll have this matter sorted out in just a few seconds. keep the lid on someone—suppress or “clamp down” on rebels, dissenters, etc.: You have the root problem of all colonials—the natives are restless and you can’t keep the lid on […]
Difference between Keep one’s head and Keep one’s head up
keep one’s head—retain self-control; remain sensible and practical: You can depend on him to keep his head no matter what happens. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase keep one’s head above water—make a living; manage to survive financially: In spite of all the reverses, he still manages to keep his […]
Difference between Keep one’s hand in and Keep one’s hands off
keep one’s hand in—exercise repeatedly in order to be in practice: Write a line or two of it every day to keep your hand in. keep one’s hands off—stop touching or interfering with smth.: She knew she had to keep her hands off so he could learn to tie his shoes by himself.
Difference between Keep one’s hair and Keep one’s hair on
keep one’s hair—not become bald: He considers himself to have been lucky during the early stages of the disease: no sickness, and he kept his hair until quite recently. keep one’s hair on—(coll.) not lose one’s temper; remain calm: His annoyance evaporated in a grin. “You’re right. She’s got a tough job. I’ll try to […]