keep one’s feet—keep one’s balance; remain standing: As he was leaving, he stumbled on the stairs but was able to keep his feet. keep one’s feet on the ground —(also: have one’s feet on the ground) have a sensible and realistic attitude to life: When the other band members tend to lose touch with reality, […]
Difference between Keep one’s face and Lose one’s face
keep one’s face—(also: keep a straight face) refrain from showing one’s feelings by one’s facial expression: The performance was so absurd that I could hardly keep my face. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase save one’s face—(also: save face) avoid being disgraced or humiliated: If he represented a first-class paper […]
Difference between Keep one’s eyes open and Open someone’s eyes
keep one’s eyes open—be watchful and alert: During the three weeks I stayed in Dar-es-Salaam, keeping my eyes open, I was hard put to find evidence of Chinese influence. open someone’s eyes—make a person acutely aware of the truth of a situation: Attending Harvard only served to open her eyes to a whole new range […]
Difference between Keep one’s balance and Keep the balance
keep one’s balance— 1. keep from falling; remain standing: He slipped on the grass and as he stumbled forward, desperately trying to keep his balance, he ran into a tree. 2. retain one’s ability to exercise control: Now that a reaction is setting in, Mr. Gorbachev is leaning back towards the conservatives to keep his […]
Difference between Keep on with something and Keep up with something
keep on with something—continue doing smth., especially in spite of danger, difficulties, etc.: For months he has been talking of giving up smoking, but he still keeps on with it. keep up with something—remain level with smth.; keep pace with smth.: Even professional politicians have a struggle to keep up with the changes in public […]
Difference between Keep off something and Keep something off
keep off something— 1. remain at a distance from smth.: In an election which seems to have been fair, the Spanish police kept off the streets. 2. prevent smth. from coming near or happening: The ships were wintered by dismantling the riggings and covering the hulls with planks to keep off the snow. 3. avoid […]
Difference between Keep it down and Keep it up
keep it down—be quiet; make no noise: And please keep it down, will you? I’m listening to Bird! Have some respect! keep it up—continue doing smth.: This guy needs to be on drugs, and if he keeps it up he will be back in prison.
Difference between Keep in touch with someone and Keep in with someone
keep in touch with someone—be in regular communication with smb.: An undergraduate is assigned to a “moral tutor” who undertakes to keep in touch with him. keep in with someone —(coll.) remain on good terms with smb. (usually to gain some advantage from the person): We’ll have to keep in with her in case we […]
Difference between Keep good hours and Keep good time
keep good hours—get up and go to bed early: As a rule they keep good hours, but most of them will read an hour or two before going to sleep. keep good time— 1. (of a clock or watch) show the hour correctly: The clock is in good working order, keeping good time. 2. be […]
Difference between Keep company with someone and Keep someone company
keep company with someone—socialize habitually with a person: She could not approve of a young woman keeping company with men, without the permission of father or mother. keep someone company—accompany smb. or stay with a person: In fall, she tramped the woods watching for squirrels. Candy, her dog, often kept her company.
Difference between Keep body and soul together and Keep oneself together
keep body and soul together—manage to survive; keep oneself alive: They get poor as snakes on such food; but it does keep body and soul together for a while. keep oneself together —(also: hold oneself together) keep one’s composure; maintain one’s good sense: I don’t know if I can keep myself together through another horrible […]
Difference between Keep bad hours and Keep bad time
keep bad hours—get up and go to bed late: She didn’t like renting to young people because they kept bad hours and made noise. keep bad time—(of a clock or watch) show the hour incorrectly: You can tell your battery is dead if your computer’s clock keeps bad time.