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[keep a civil tongue in one’s head]{v. phr.} To be polite in speaking. •/He was very angry with his boss, but he kept a civil tongue in his head./ •/The bus driver began yelling at the woman and she told him to keep a civil tongue in his head./

[keep a close check on] See: KEEP TAB(S) ON.

[keep after]{v.}, {informal} To speak to (someone) about something again and again; remind over and over again. •/Some pupils will do sloppy work unless the teacher keeps after them to write neatly./ •/Sue’s mother had to keep after her to clean her bedroom./

[keep an ear to the ground] See: EAR TO THE GROUND.

[keep an eye on] or [keep one’s eye on] or [have one’s eye on]{v. phr.} 1. To watch carefully; not stop paying attention to. •/Keep an eye on the stove in case the coffee boils./ •/You must keep your eye on the ball when you play tennis./ •/A good driver keeps his eye on the road./ •/The teacher had her eye on me because she thought I was cheating./ •/Billy keeps a jealous eye on his toys./ •/The lion tamer keeps a sharp eye on the lions when he is in the cage./ Compare: LOOK OUT, LOOK OVER. 2. To watch and do what is needed for; mind. •/Mother told Jane to keep an eye on the baby while she was in the store./ •/Mr. Brown told John to keep an eye on the store while he was out./ Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1).

[keep an eye open] or [keep an eye out for] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.

[keep an eye out] See: EYE OUT.

[keep a stiff upper lip]{v. phr.} To be brave; face trouble bravely. •/He was very much worried about his sick daughter, but he kept a stiff upper lip./ •/Although he was having some trouble with the engine, the pilot kept a stiff upper lip and landed the plane safely./ Compare: KEEP ONE’S CHIN UP.

[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./