17 VERB If food keeps for a certain length of time, it stays fresh and suitable to eat for that time. □ [V ] Whatever is left over may be put into the refrigerator, where it will keep for 2-3 weeks.
18 VERB [only cont] You can say or ask how someone is keeping as a way of saying or asking whether they are well. □ [V adv] She hasn't been keeping too well lately.
19 N‑COUNT A keep is the main tower of a medieval castle, in which people lived.
20 PHRASE If you keep at it , you continue doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop. □ It may take a number of attempts, but it is worth keeping at it.
21 PHRASE If you keep going , you continue moving along or doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop. □ She forced herself to keep going.
22 PHRASE If one thing is in keeping with another, it is suitable in relation to that thing. If one thing is out of keeping with another, it is not suitable in relation to that thing. □ [+ with ] His office was in keeping with his station and experience.
23 PHRASE If you keep it up , you continue working or trying as hard as you have been in the past. □ You're doing a great job! Keep it up!
24 PHRASE If you keep something to yourself , you do not tell anyone else about it. □ I have to tell someone. I can't keep it to myself.
25 PHRASE If you keep yourself to yourself or keep to yourself , you stay on your own most of the time and do not mix socially with other people. □ He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself.
26 to keep someone company → see company
27 to keep a straight face → see face ➊
28 to keep your head → see head
29 to keep pace → see pace
30 to keep the peace → see peace
31 to keep a secret → see secret
32 to keep time → see time
33 to keep track → see track
▸ keep back
1 PHRASAL VERB If you keep back part of something, you do not use or give away all of it, so that you still have some to use at a later time. □ [V P n] Roughly chop the vegetables, and keep back a little to chop finely and serve as a garnish. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you keep some information back , you do not tell all that you know about something. □ [V n P ] Neither of them is telling the whole truth. Invariably, they keep something back. [Also V P n]
▸ keep down
1 PHRASAL VERB If you keep the number, size, or amount of something down , you do not let it get bigger or go higher. □ [V n P ] The prime aim is to keep inflation down. □ [V P n] Administration costs were kept down to just £460.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone keeps a group of people down , they prevent them from getting power and status and being completely free. □ [V n P ] There is no holding her back or keeping her down. [Also V P n]
3 PHRASAL VERB If you keep food or drink down , you manage to swallow it properly and not vomit, even though you feel sick. □ [V n P ] I tried to give her something to drink but she couldn't keep it down.
▸ keep on
1 → see keep 7
2 PHRASAL VERB If you keep someone on , you continue to employ them, for example after they are old enough to retire or after other employees have lost their jobs. □ [V n P ] Sometimes they keep you on a bit longer if there's no one quite ready to step into your shoes. [Also V P n (not pron)]
▸ keep on about PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone keeps on about something, you mean that they keep talking about it in a boring way. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P P n] He kept on about me being 'defensive'.
▸ keep on at PHRASAL VERB If you keep on at someone, you repeatedly ask or tell them something in a way that annoys them. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P P n] You've constantly got to keep on at people about that. □ [V P P n to-inf] She kept on at him to get some qualifications.
▸ keep to
1 PHRASAL VERB If you keep to a rule, plan, or agreement, you do exactly what you are expected or supposed to do. □ [V P n] You've got to keep to the speed limit.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you keep to something such as a path or river, you do not move away from it as you go somewhere. □ [V P n] Please keep to the paths.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you keep to a particular subject, you talk only about that subject, and do not talk about anything else. □ [V P n] Let's keep to the subject, or you'll get me too confused.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you keep something to a particular number or quantity, you limit it to that number or quantity. □ [V n P n] Keep costs to a minimum.
▸ keep up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you keep up with someone or something that is moving near you, you move at the same speed. □ [V P + with ] She shook her head and started to walk on. He kept up with her. [Also V P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB To keep up with something that is changing means to be able to cope with the change, usually by changing at the same rate. □ [V P + with ] …wage increases which keep up with inflation. □ [V P ] Things are changing so fast, it's hard to keep up.