Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"
Автор книги: Adam Makkai
Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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Словари
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Текущая страница: 30 (всего у книги 61 страниц)
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[Jack] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.
[jack] See: EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK.
[jack of all trades]{n.}, {informal} (Often followed by the words «master of none.») A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. Can be used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and the intonation. •/Peter is a jack of all trades; he can survive anywhere!/ •/«How come Joe did such a sloppy job?» Mary asked. «He’s a jack of all trades,» Sally answered./
[jackpot] See: HIT THE JACKPOT.
[jack-rabbit start]{n.}, {informal} A very sudden start from a still position; a very fast start from a stop. •/Bob made a jack-rabbit start when the traffic light turned green./
[Jack Robinson] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.
[jack up]{v.} 1. To lift with a jack. •/The man jacked up his car to fit a flat tire./ 2. {informal} To make (a price) higher; raise. •/Just before Christmas, some stores jack up their prices./
[jailbait]{n.}, {slang} A girl below the legal age of consent for sex; one who tempts you to intimacy which is punishable by imprisonment. •/Stay away from Arabella, she is a jailbait./
[jailbird]{n.}, {informal} A convict; someone who is in jail or has been recently released from prison. •/Because Harry was a jailbird, it was understandably hard for him to find a job after being imprisoned./
[jake flake]{n.}, {slang} A boring person whose company is usually not wanted. •/Please don’t invite Turner, he is a jake flake./
[jar on]{v. phr.} To irritate. •/The constant construction noise was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting./
[jaw] See: GLASS JAW.
[jawbreaker]{n.} 1. A large piece of hard candy or bubblegum. •/Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some jawbreakers and a chocolate bar./ 2. [informal] A word or name that is hard to pronounce. •/His name, Nissequogue, is a real jawbreaker./
[jaw drop] or [jaw drop a mile]{informal} Mouth fall wide open with surprise. – Used with a possessive. •/Tom’s jaw dropped a mile when he won the prize./
[jaws tight]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Angry; uptight; tense. •/Why are you getting your jaws so tight?/
[jazz up]{v.}, {slang} To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting. •/The party was very dull until Pete jazzed it up with his drums./
[Jehu] See: DRIVE LIKE JEHU.
[jerk] or [jerker] See: SODA JERK or SODA JERKER.
[jerry-built]{adj.} 1. Built poorly or carelessly of cheap materials; easily broken. •/That jerry-built cabin will blow apart in a strong wind./ 2. Done without careful preparation or thought; planned too quickly. •/When the regular television program didn’t come on, a jerry-built program was substituted at the last minute./
[Jesus boots] or [Jesus shoes]{n.}, {slang} Men’s sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people. •/I dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool./
[jig’s up] See: GAME’S UP.
[jim-dandy]{n.}, {slang} Something wonderful; something very good. •/Tommy’s new boat is really a jim-dandy! I wish I had one like it./
[jink] See: HIGH JINKS.
[job] See: DO A JOB ON, FALL DOWN ON THE JOB, LIE DOWN ON THE JOB, ON THE JOB.
[Joe Doakes]{n.} A name used informally for the average man. •/Let us say that Joe Doakes goes to the movies three times a year./ Compare: MAN IN THE STREET, SO-AND-SO.
[John Doe]{n.} A name used for an unknown person, especially in police and law business. •/The alarm went out for a John Doe who stole the diamonds from the store./
[John Hancock] or [John Henry]{n.}, {informal} Your signature; your name in writing. •/The man said, «Put your John Hancock on this paper.»/ •/Joe felt proud when he put his John Henry on his very first driver’s license./
[Johnny-come-lately]{n.} Someone new in a place or group; newcomer; also: a new person who takes an active part in group affairs before tlie group has accepted him; upstart. •/Everybody was amazed when a Johnny-come-lately beat the old favorite in the race./ •/When it looked as though Mr. Brown had a good chance of winning, many Johnny-come-latelies began to support him./
[Johnny-on-the-spot]{adj. phr.} At the right place when needed; present and ready to help; very prompt; on time. •/A good waterboy is always Johnny-on-the-spot./ •/The firemen were Johnny-on-the-spot and put out the fire in the house soon after it started./ Compare: ON THE JOB.
[John Q. Public]{n.} A name used informally for the average citizen. •/It is John Q. Public’s duty to vote at each election./ Compare: JOE DOAKES.
[join forces] or [join hands]{v. phr.} To get together for the same aim; group together for a purpose; unite. •/The students and the graduates joined forces to raise money when the gym burned down./ •/The American soldiers joined hands with the British in the war against Germany./ Compare: THROW IN ONE’S LOT WITH.
[join hands] See: JOIN FORCES.
[joint] See: CLIP JOINT, PUT ONE’S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.
[joke] See: CRACK A JOKE.
[joking apart] See: JOKING ASIDE.
[joking aside] or [joking apart]{v. phr.}, {informal} No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously. •/Joking aside, although the conditions were not very comfortable, we had a wonderful time./ •/Joking apart, there must have been over a hundred people in the room./
[Jones] See: KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES.
[jot down]{v. phr.} To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something. •/Let me jot down your address so that I can send you a postcard from Europe./
[judgment seat]{n.} A place where you are judged; a place where justice and punishment are given out. •/Mrs. Smith is so bossy, she always acts as though she is in the judgment seat./
[jug-eared]{adj.} With ears that stick out like the handles of a jug. •/Tommy was a redheaded, freckle-faced, jug-eared boy./
[juice] See: STEW IN ONE’S OWN JUICE.
[juice dealer]{n.}, {slang} An underworld money lender who charges exorbitant fees to his clientele and frequently collects payment by physical force. •/No matter how broke you are, never go to a juice dealer./
[jump] See: GET THE JUMP ON or HAVE THE JUMP ON, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN or NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP.
[jump all over] See: JUMP ON.
[jump at]{v.} To take or accept quickly and gladly. •/Johnny jumped at the invitation to go swimming with his brother./ Compare: TAKE UP(7).
[jump bail] or [skip bail]{v. phr.}, {informal} To run away and fail to come to trial, and so to give up a certain amount of money already given to a court of law to hold with the promise that you would come. •/The robber paid $2000 bail so he wouldn’t be put in jail before his trial, but he jumped bail and escaped to Mexico./ •/The man skipped bail because he was afraid the court might put him in jail for a long time./
[jump ball]{n.} The starting of play in basketball by tossing the ball into the air between two opposing players, each of whom jumps and tries to hit the ball to a member of his own team. •/Two players held onto the ball at the same time and the referee called a jump ball./
[jump down one’s throat]{v. phr.} To suddenly become very angry at someone; scold severely or angrily. •/The teacher jumped down Billy’s throat when Billy said he did not do his homework./
[jump from the frying pan into the fire] See: OUT OP THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[jumping-off place]{n. phr.} 1. A place so far away that it seems to be the end of the world. •/Columbus' sailors were afraid they would arrive at the jumping-off place if they sailed farther west./ •/So you visited Little America? That sounds like the jumping-off place!/ 2. The starting place of a long, hard trip or of something difficult or dangerous. •/The jumping-off place for the explorer’s trip through the jungle was a little village./
[jump on] or [jump all over] or [land on] or [land all over]{v. phr.}, {informal} To scold; criticize; blame. •/Tom’s boss jumped all over Tom because he made a careless mistake./ •/Janice landed on Robert for dressing carelessly for their date./ •/«I don’t know why Bill is always jumping on me; I just don’t understand him,» said Bob./ Compare: FIND FAULT, GET ON, LAY OUT(7).
[jump on the bandwagon] or [get on the bandwagon]{v. phr.}, {informal} To join a popular cause or movement. •/At the last possible moment, the senator jumped on the winning candidate’s bandwagon./
[jump out of one’s skin]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be badly frightened; be very much surprised. •/The lightning struck so close to Bill that he almost jumped out of his skin./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.
[jump pass]{n.} A pass (as in football or basketball) made by a player while jumping. •/The Bruins scored when the quarterback tossed a jump pass to the left end./
[jump the gun] also [beat the gun]{v. phr.} 1. To start before the starter’s gun in a race. •/The runners were called back because one of them jumped the gun./ 2. {informal} To start before you should; start before anyone else. •/The new students were not supposed to come before noon, but one boy jumped the gun and came to school at eight in the morning./ •/The students planned to say happy birthday to the principal when the teacher raised her hand, but Sarah jumped the gun and said it when he came into the room./
[jump the traces] See: KICK OVER THE TRACES.
[jump the track]{v. phr.} 1. To go off rails; go or run the wrong way. •/The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident./ •/The pulley of the clothesline jumped the track and Mother’s washing fell down./ 2. {informal} To change from one thought or idea to another without plan or reason; change the thought or idea you are talking about to something different. •/Bob didn’t finish his algebra homework because his mind kept jumping the track to think about the new girl in class./ Compare: OFF THE TRACK.
[jump through a hoop]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do whatever you are told to do; obey any order. •/Bob would jump through a hoop for Mary./ Compare: TWIST AROUND ONE’S LITTLE FINGER, UNDER ONE’S THUMB.
[jump to a conclusion]{v. phr.} To decide too quickly or without thinking or finding the facts. •/Jerry saw his dog limping on a bloody leg and jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot./ Contrast: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.
[junked up]{adj.} or {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} To be under the influence of drugs, especially heroine. •/You can’t talk to Billy, he’s all junked up./
[just about]{adv.}, {informal} Nearly; almost; practically. •/Just about everyone in town came to hear the mayor speak./ •/The dress came down to just about the middle of her knee./ •/Has Mary finished peeling the potatoes? Just about./
[just for the fun of it]{adv. phr.} Merely as a matter of amusement. •/«I’ll bring a goat to class,» Bob said to his classmates, «just for the fun of it; I want to see what kind of a face Professor Brown will make.»/
[just for the hell of it] See: JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.
[justice] See: DO JUSTICE TO.
[just in case]{adv. phr.} For an emergency; in order to be protected. •/«Here are my house keys. Sue,» Tom said. «I’ll be back in two weeks, but you should have them, just in case…»/ See: IN CASE.
[just in time] See: IN TIME.
[just now]{adv. phr.} 1. Just at this moment; at this time. •/Mr. Johnson isn’t here just now. Will you phone back later? 2./ {informal} A very short time ago; only a moment ago; only a little while ago. •/«Where could that boy have gone so quickly? He was here just now!»/ Compare: WHILE AGO.
[just so(1)]{adj.} Exact; exactly right. •/Mrs. Robinson likes to keep her house just so, and she makes the children take off their shoes when they come in the house./
[just so(2)]{conj.} Provided; if. •/Take as much food as you want, just so you don’t waste any food./ Syn.: AS LONG AS(2).
[just so(3)]{adv. phr.} With great care; very carefully. •/In order to raise healthy African violets you must treat them just so./
[just the other way] or [the other way around]{adv. phr.} Just the opposite. •/One would have thought that Goliath would defeat David, but it was the other way around./
[just the same] See: ALL THE SAME.
[just what the doctor ordered]{n. phr.}, {informal} Exactly what is needed or wanted. •/«Ah! Just what the doctor ordered!» exclaimed Joe when Mary brought him a cold soda./
K
[kangaroo court]{n.} A self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong. •/The Chicago mob held a kangaroo court and shot the gangster who competed with Al Capone./
[keel] See: ON AN EVEN KEEL.
[keel over]{v.} 1. To turn upside down; tip over; overturn. – Usually refers to a boat. •/The strong wind made the sailboat keel over and the passengers fell into the water./ 2. {informal} To fall over in a faint; taint. •/It was so hot during the assembly program that two girls who were standing on the stage keeled over./ •/When the principal told the girl her father died, she keeled right over./
[keen about] or [on]{adj. phr.} Very enthusiastic about someone or something. •/It is well known that Queen Elizabeth is keen on horses./
[keep abreast (of) someone] or [something]{v. phr.} To be informed of the latest developments. •/It is difficult to keep abreast of all the various wars that are being waged on planet Earth./ Compare: KEEP STEP WITH.
[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./
[keep one’s balance]{v. phr.} To stay even-tempered; not become overexcited. •/Mike has the best personality to run our office; he always keeps his balance./ Contrast: LOSE ONE’S BALANCE.
[keep one’s chin up]{v. phr.} To be brave; be determined; face trouble with courage. •/He didn’t think that he would ever get out of the jungle alive, but he kept his chin up./ Compare: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP.
[keep one’s distance]{v. phr.} To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. •/Mary did not like her co-worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her./ Compare: KEEP ONE AT A DISTANCE.
[keep one’s end up] See: HOLD ONE’S END UP.
[keep one’s eye on] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.
[keep one’s eye on the ball]{v. phr.} 1. To watch the ball at all times in a sport, usually in order to hit it or get it; not stop watching the ball. •/Keep your eye on the baseball or you won’t be able to hit it./ 2. {informal} To be watchful and ready; be wide-awake and ready to win or succeed; be smart. •/Tom is just starting on the job but if he keeps his eye on the ball, he will be promoted./ Compare: ON THE BALL, KEEP AN EYE ON or KEEP ONE’S EYE ON or HAVE ONE’S EYE ON.
[keep one’s eyes open] See: EYES OPEN.
[keep one’s eyes peeled] or [keep one’s eyes skinned]{v. phr.}, {informal} To watch carefully; be always looking. •/The bird-watcher kept his eyes peeled for bluebirds./ •/When the boys walked through the roads, they kept their eyes skinned for snakes./ Compare: EYES OPEN(1), EYE OUT.
[keep one’s feet]{v. phr.} To keep from falling or slipping down; keep your balance; remain standing. •/The boy stumbled on the stairs but was able to keep his feet./ Compare: REGAIN ONE’S FEET.
[keep one’s feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.
[keep one’s fingers crossed] See: CROSS ONE’S FINGERS(1b).
[keep one’s hand in]{v. phr.} To keep in practice; continue to take part. •/After he retired from teaching, Mr. Brown kept his hand in by giving a lecture once in a while./ •/Mr. Smith left the planning of the trip to his wife, but he kept his hand in, too./ Compare: KEEP UP.
[keep one’s head] also [keep one’s wits about one]{v. phr.} To stay calm when there is trouble or danger. •/When Tim heard the fire alarm he kept his head and looked for the nearest exit./ Compare: COUNT TO TEN. Contrast: LOSE ONE’S HEAD.
[keep one’s head above water]{v. phr.} To remain solvent; manage to stay out of debt. •/Herb’s income declined so drastically that he now has difficulty keeping his head above water./
[keep one’s mouth shut]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be or stay silent. – A rude expression when used as a command. •/When the crooks were captured by the police, their leader warned them to keep their mouths shut./ •/Charles began to tell Barry how to kick the ball, and Barry said angrily, «Keep your mouth shut!»/ Syn.: SHUT UP(1).
[keep one’s nose clean]{v. phr.}, {slang} To stay out of trouble; do only what you should do. •/The boss said Jim could have the job as long as he kept his nose clean and worked hard./ •/The policeman warned the boys to keep their noses clean unless they wanted to go to jail./ Compare: STEER CLEAR OF(2).
[keep one’s nose to the grindstone] or [have one’s nose to the grindstone] or [hold one’s nose to the grindstone]{v. phr.}, {informal} To work hard all the time; keep busy with boring or tiresome work. •/Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves as much as possible to start her own business./
[keep one’s own counsel]{v. phr.}, {formal} To keep your ideas and plans to yourself. •/John listened to what everyone had to say in the discussion, but he kept his own counsel./ •/Although everybody gave Mrs. O’Connor advice about what to do with her house, she kept her own counsel./
[keep one’s shirt on]{v. phr.}, {slang} To calm down; keep from losing your temper or getting impatient or excited. •/Bob got very angry when John accidentally bumped into him, but John told him to keep his shirt on./ – Usually used as a command; may be considered impolite. •/John said to Bob, «Keep your shirt on.»/ Contrast: GET ONE’S DANDER UP.
[keep one’s temper] See: HOLD ONE’S TEMPER.
[keep one’s weather eye open] See: WEATHER EYE.
[keep one’s wits about one] See: KEEP ONE’S HEAD.
[keep one’s word]{v. phr.} To do what one has promised; fulfill one’s promise. •/Paul kept his word and paid me the $250 that he owed me right on time./
[keep on the good side of] See: ON ONE’S GOOD SIDE.
[keep open house]{v. phr.} To offer hospitality and entertain those who come at any given time on a certain day or afternoon. •/Beth and Charlie have a cottage by the lake where they keep open house on Saturday afternoons during the summer./
[keep out (of)]{v. phr.} 1. To stay out; remain out of. •/The sign on the fence said, «Danger! Keep out!»/ 2. To stave off; not allow in. •/The border patrol near El Paso, Texas, is trying to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States./
[keep pace]{v. phr.} To go as fast; go at the same rate; not get behind. •/When they go for a walk, Johnny has to take long steps to keep pace with his father./ •/When Billy was moved to a more advanced class, he had to work hard to keep pace./ Compare: KEEP UP(2a).
[keep plugging along]{v. phr.}, {informal} To continue to work diligently and with great effort, often against hardship. •/Bob was not particularly talented but he kept plugging along year after year, and eventually became vice president./
[keeps] See: FOR KEEPS.
[keep step with]{v. phr.} To maintain the same degree of progress as someone else. •/The United States has no choice but to keep step with potential enemies in terms of modern defense systems./
[keep tab on] or [keep tabs on]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To keep a record of. •/The government tries to keep tabs on all the animals in the park./ 2. To keep a watch on; check. •/The house mother kept tabs on the girls to be sure they were clean and neat./ Compare: KEEP TRACK OF.
[keep the ball rolling]{v. phr.}, {informal} To keep up an activity or action; not allow something that is happening to slow or stop. •/Clyde kept the ball rolling at the party by dancing with a lamp shade on his head./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.
[keep the faith]{v. phr.} To not abandon hope; stay committed to the cause of democracy and racial equality. •/«Keep the faith, Baby,» my neighbor said as he raised his fingers to show the "V" for victory sign./
[keep the home fires burning]{v. phr.} To keep things going as usual while someone is away; wait at home to welcome someone back. •/While John was in the army, Mary kept the home fires burning./
[keep the wolf (wolves) from the door]{v. phr.} To avoid hunger, poverty, and/or creditors. •/«I don’t like my job,» Mike complained, «but I must do something to keep the wolves from the door.»/ Compare: KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.
[keep things humming]{v. phr.} To cause thing to perform smoothly and efficiently. •/Until Mr. Long joined our computer center, we had all sorts of problems, but he has corrected them and really keeps things humming./
[keep time]{v. phr.} 1. To show the right time. •/My watch has not kept good time since I dropped it./ 2. To keep the beat; keep the same rhythm; keep in step. •/Many people are surprised at how well deaf people keep time with the music when they dance./
[keep to oneself] See: TO ONESELF(2).
[keep track]{v. phr.} To know about changes; stay informed or up-to-date; keep a count or record. •/What day of the week is it? I can’t keep track./ – Usually used with «of». •/Mr. Stevens kept track of his business by telephone when he was in the hospital./ •/The farmer has so many chickens, he can hardly keep track of them all./ Compare: IN TOUCH, KEEP UP(3). Contrast: LOSE TRACK.
[keep under one’s hat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To keep secret; not tell. •/Mr. Jones knew who had won the contest, but he kept it under his hat until it was announced publicly./ – Often used as a command. •/Keep it under your hat./ Syn.: KEEP TO ONESELF.
[keep up]{v.} 1a. To go on; not stop; continue. •/The rain kept up for two days and the roads were flooded./ Compare: KEEP ON. 1b. To go on with (something); continue steadily; never stop. •/Mrs. Smith told John to keep up the good work./ •/The teacher asked Dick to stop bothering Mary, but he kept it up./ Compare: KEEP AT. 2a. To go at the same rate as others. •/John had to work hard to keep up./ •/Billy was the youngest boy on the hike, but he kept up with the others./ Compare: CATCH UP, KEEP PACE. Contrast: FALL BEHIND, GET BEHIND(1). 2b. To keep (something) at the same level or rate or in good condition. •/The shortage of tomatoes kept the prices up./ •/Grandfather was too poor to keep up his house./ 3. To keep informed. – Usually used with «on» or «with». •/Mary is interested in politics and always keeps up with the news./ Compare: KEEP TRACK.
[keep up appearances]{v. phr.} To maintain an outward show of prosperity in spite of financial problems. •/Mr. Smith’s widow had a hard time keeping up appearances after her husband’s death./
[keep up one’s end] See: HOLD ONE’S END UP.
[keep up with] See: KEEP STEP WITH, KEEP ABREAST OF.
[keep up with the Joneses]{v. phr.} To follow the latest fashion; try to be equal with your neighbors. •/Mrs. Smith kept buying every new thing that was advertised, finally Mr. Smith told her to stop trying to keep up with the Joneses and to start thinking for herself./
[keep watch]{v. phr.} To be vigilant; be alert; guard. •/The police have asked the neighborhood to keep watch against an escaped convict./
[keep your fingers crossed] See: CROSS ONE’S FINGERS.
[kettle] See: KETTLE OF FISH, POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK.
[kettle of fish]{v. phr.}, {informal} Something to be considered; how things are; a happening; business. •/I thought he needed money, but it was another kettle of fish – his car had disappeared./ – Usually used with «pretty», «fine», «nice», but meaning bad trouble. •/He had two flat tires and no spare on a country road at night, which was certainly a pretty kettle of fish./ •/This is a fine kettle of fish! I forgot my book./ Compare: CUP OP TEA(2).
[key] See: LOW KEY, OFF-KEY.
[keyed up]{adj.}, {informal} Excited; nervous; anxious to do something. •/Mary was all keyed up about the exam./ •/Mother would not let Tom read a ghost story at bedtime; she said it would get him keyed up./
[kick about] See: KICK AROUND(3).
[kick against the pricks]{v. phr.}, {literary} To fight against rules or authority in a way that just hurts yourself. •/Johnny kicked against the pricks in his foster home until he learned that he could trust his new family./
[kick around]{v.}, {informal} 1. To act roughly or badly to; treat badly; bully. •/John likes to kick around the little boys./ •/Mr. Jones is always kicking his dog around./ Syn.: PUSH AROUND. 2. To lie around or in a place; be treated carelessly; be neglected. •/This old coat has been kicking around the closet for years./ •/The letter kicked around on my desk for days./ 3. {slang} To talk easily or carelessly back and forth about; examine in a careless or easy-going way. •/Bob and I kicked around the idea of going swimming, but it was hot and we were too lazy./ Compare: TRY OUT, TALK OVER. 4. To move about often; go from one job or place to another; become experienced. •/Harry has kicked around all over the world as a merchant seaman./ Compare: HAS BEEN AROUND.
