Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 431 keep one's hand in (something) - retain some control of something My uncle sold his business but he is still trying to keep his hand in some of its operations. keep one's hands off (someone or something) - refrain from touching or handling someone or something My aunt asked her nephew to keep his hands off her furniture. keep one`s head - stay calm when there is trouble or danger He is a very good leader and is able to keep his head during an emergency. keep one`s head above water - have the ability to pay one`s bills He is having trouble keeping his head above water since his salary decreased. keep one`s mouth shut - be/stay silent I was very angry and I told my friend to keep his mouth shut. Later I had to apologize. keep one`s nose clean - stay out of trouble He has been able to keep his nose clean since he moved to the new town. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 432 keep one's nose out of (someone's) business - refrain from interfering in someone else's business I try hard to keep my nose out of my friend's business so he doesn't become angry with me. keep one`s nose to the grindstone - work very hard He is keeping his nose to the grindstone these days and I haven`t had a chance to meet him. keep one's opinions to oneself - don't give your opinion (especially when you disagree with others) I try to keep my opinions to myself when I talk to my father about the local city government. keep one`s own counsel - keep one`s ideas and plans to oneself He always keeps his own counsel and never reveals his plans to anyone. keep one's place - exhibit behavior suitable to one's position/place in life I was told to keep my place when I began to complain about the food in the school cafeteria. keep one`s shirt on - be calm, keep from losing one`s temper or becoming too impatient "Try and keep your shirt on! Everything will be all right in a few minutes." Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 433 keep one`s wits about one - stay calm when there is trouble or danger Although there was a fire in the building, he was able to keep his wits about him and help everybody to safety. keep one`s word - fulfill/keep one`s promise She never keeps her word, so I don`t believe that she will come to the party as she said. keep pace (with someone or something) - go as fast or go at the same rate as someone or something It is difficult to keep pace with the other students but somehow I manage. keep quiet - remain silent "Could you please keep quiet and listen to the instructions." keep (someone) company - sit and stay with someone (especially someone who is lonely or sick) I stayed home last night so that I could keep my mother company. keep (someone) from (doing something) - prevent someone from doing something I tried hard to keep my friend from buying a new car. keep (someone or something) in check - to keep someone or something under control, to restrain someone or something The economic policy was designed to keep inflation in check. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 434 keep (someone) in line - make someone behave properly The teacher is very strict and she knows how to keep her students in line. keep (someone or something) in mind - remember and think about someone or something I told my co-workers to keep the new starting time for work in mind. keep (someone) in stitches - cause someone to laugh continuously The man kept me in stitches with his funny stories. keep (someone) on - allow someone to continue working for you Although we have too many workers we have decided to keep everybody on until business improves. keep (someone) on tenterhooks - keep someone anxious or in suspense I was kept on tenterhooks as I waited to hear the results of my exam. keep (someone) posted - keep someone informed or up-to-date I asked my friend to keep me posted on his new job and address. keep (someone or something) still/quiet - make someone or something silent or less noisy The mother had a hard time keeping her child still in the airplane. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 435 keep (someone) up - prevent someone from going to bed My neighbors kept me up last night with their loud music. keep (something) down - keep food in one's stomach (without vomiting it up when sick) The child was sick and found it difficult to keep his food down. keep (something) to oneself - keep something a secret I asked my friend to keep the news to herself. keep (something) under one`s hat - keep a secret, do not tell something He won`t say where he is going for his holiday. He wants to keep it under his hat. keep (something) under wraps - keep something concealed (until some future date) We decided to keep our plans for the new project under wraps. keep still - to not move I tried to keep still during the long lecture. keep tabs on (someone or something) - watch/check/observe someone or something We have been keeping tabs on the spending of the sales department. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 436 keep the ball rolling - keep up an activity or action, not allow something that is happening to slow or stop We should try to keep the ball rolling and get most of our work done now. keep the home fires burning - keep things going as usual while someone is away "Don`t worry about anything. I will stay home and keep the home fires burning while you are on your holiday." keep the lid on (something) - restrain something, keep something quiet The hospital worked hard to keep the lid on the drug scandal. keep the wolf from the door - maintain oneself at a basic level My job pays just enough money to keep the wolf from the door. keep the wolves at bay - to fight against some kind of trouble The university students were angry and the administration had to work hard to keep the wolves at bay. keep time - keep track of the time in a game or athletic contest I kept time during the football game at our high school. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 437 keep time - keep the beat, keep the same musical rhythm It is difficult for the girl to keep time when she is playing in the band. keep time - to keep accurate time (for a watch or clock) My old watch will not keep time at all. keep to oneself - stay away from other people Our neighbor is very quiet and likes to keep to herself. keep track of (someone or something) - maintain a record of something "Please carefully keep track of your expenses during the trip." keep up - do not stop, continue We are working hard to keep up the same level of production as last year. keep up an act - act in a way that is different from one's natural behavior I think that the woman is trying to keep up an act even though she has almost no money. keep up appearances - keep an outward show of prosperity or good behavior He is trying to keep up appearances even though he has lost his job. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 438 keep up (something) - to keep something at the same level, to keep something in good condition The man spends a lot of time trying to keep up the garden of his house. keep up with (someone or something) - go at the same speed as a person or thing, maintain the same rate of progress I can`t keep up with the rest of the class. keep up with the news - keep informed I read the newspaper every morning in order to keep up with the news. keep up with the Joneses - try to be the same as your neighbors He always worries about keeping up with the Joneses and is always frustrated. keep up with the times - stay in fashion My aunt tries very hard to keep up with the times. . (a fine) kettle of fish - a situation that is not satisfactory, a mess "This is a fine kettle of fish. What will we do with no water in our house." Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 439 keyed up - excited, nervous I was keyed up after we won the game and I couldn`t go to sleep. kick Idioms kick around - treat badly, act roughly or badly to someone or something I don`t like her very much because she is always kicking around her employees. kick around - lie around and do nothing or only do small tasks I was tired on Saturday so I kicked around the house all morning. kick back - relax and not do much I`m going to kick back this evening and watch television. kick in (some money or something) - contribute some money for something Everybody kicked in to collect some money for a present for our teacher. to kick off (something) - begin/launch/start something The department store kicked off their summer sale early Saturday morning. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 440 a kick-off - a start The kick-off for the no smoking campaign will start next week. kick oneself - regret something I kicked myself for not applying for the job sooner. kick out (someone) - make someone go or leave, dismiss someone The boy was kicked out of school because of his bad behavior. kick/turn over - a motor starts At first the engine wouldn`t start because it was too cold but finally it kicked over. kick the bucket - die The man who used to clean the building kicked the bucket last week. kick the habit - stop a bad habit He has been trying to kick his smoking habit for many years. kick up a fuss/storm - make trouble, be a nuisance about something I didn`t think that it was a big problem but my boss kicked up a fuss when I told him about the accident. . (something) - begin/launch/start something The department store kicked off their summer sale early Saturday morning. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 440 a kick-off - a start The kick-off. watch/check/observe someone or something We have been keeping tabs on the spending of the sales department. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 436 keep the ball rolling - keep up an activity or action,. fulfill/keep one`s promise She never keeps her word, so I don`t believe that she will come to the party as she said. keep pace (with someone or something) - go as fast or go at the same rate