[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.

[kick back] <v.>, <slang>, <informal> To pay money illegally for favorable contract arrangements. * /I will do it if you kick back a few hundred for my firm./

[kickback] <n.>, <slang>, <informal> Money paid illegally for favorable treatment. * /He was arrested for making kickback payments./

[kick down] <v. phr.>, <slang> To shift an automobile, jeep, or truck into lower gear by hand-shifting. * /Joe kicked the jeep down from third to second, and we slowed down./

[kick in] See: CHIP IN.

[kick in the pants] or [kick in the teeth] <n. phr.>, <informal> Unexpected scorn or insult when praise was expected; rejection. * /Mary worked hard to clean up John's room, but all she got for her trouble was a kick in the teeth./ Compare: SLAP IN THE FACE.

[kick it] <v. phr.>, <slang> To end a bad or unwanted habit such as drinking, smoking, or drug addiction. * /Farnsworth finally kicked it; he's in good shape./

[kickoff] <n.> The start of something, like a new venture, a business, a sports event, or a concert season. * /Beethoven's Ninth will be the kickoff for this summer season at Ravinia./

[kick off] <v. phr.> 1. To make the kick that begins a football game. * /John kicked off and the football game started./ 2. <informal> To begin; launch; start. * /The candidate kicked off his campaign with a speech on television./ * /The fund raising drive was kicked off with a theater party./ 3. <slang> To die. * /Mr. Jones was almost ninety years old when he kicked off./ Syn.: KICK THE BUCKET.

[kick oneself] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be sorry or ashamed; regret. * /When John missed the train, he kicked himself for not having left earlier./ * /Mary could have kicked herself for letting the secret out before it was announced officially./

[kick out] or [boot out] <v.>, <informal> To make (someone) go or leave; get rid of; dismiss. * /The boys made so much noise at the movie that the manager kicked them out./ * /The chief of police was booted out of office because he was a crook./ Syn.: THROW OUT(3).

[kick over] <v.> 1. Of a motor: To begin to work. * /He had not used his car for two months and when he tried to start it, the motor would not kick over./ 2. <slang> To pay; contribute. * /The gang forced all the storekeepers on the block to kick over $5 a week./ 3. <slang> To die. * /Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over this morning./

[kick over the traces] also [jump the traces] <v. phr.> To break the rules; behave badly. * /When their teacher was absent and they had a substitute, the children kicked over the traces./ Compare: ACT UP, CUT UP, LET LOOSE, OUT OF HAND, RAISE CAIN.

[kick the bucket] <v. phr.>, <slang> To die. * /Old Mr. Jones kicked the bucket just two days before his ninety-fourth birthday./ Compare: KICK OFF(3).

[kick up] <v.>, <informal> To show signs of not working right. * /John had had too much to eat and his stomach started to kick up./ * /After working well for a year the air conditioner suddenly started kicking up./

[kick up a fuss] or [kick up a row] or [raise a row] also [kick up a dust] <v. phr.>, <informal> To make trouble; make a disturbance. * /When the teacher gave the class five more hours of homework, the class kicked up a fuss./ * /When the teacher left the room, two boys kicked up a row./ Compare: RAISE CAIN, RAISE THE ROOF.

[kick up one's heels] <v. phr.>, <informal> To have a merry time; celebrate. * /When exams were over the students went to town to kick up their heels./ * /Mary was usually very quiet but at the farewell party she kicked up her heels and had a wonderful time./

[kid] See: HANDLE WITH GLOVES or HANDLE WITH KID GLOVES, HANDLE WITHOUT GLOVES or HANDLE WITHOUT KID GLOVES.

[kiddie car] <n.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> A school bus. * /Watch out for that kiddie car coming up behind you!/

[kill] See: CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT, IN AT THE KILL.

[kill off] <v.> To kill or end completely; destroy. * /The factory dumped poisonous wastes into the river and killed off the fish./ * /The president suggested a new law to Congress but many members of Congress were against the idea and they killed it off./ * /Mother made Nancy practice her dancing an hour every day; Nancy got tired of dancing and that killed off her interest./

[kill the goose that laid the golden egg] To spoil something that is good or something that you have, by being greedy. - A proverb. * /Mrs. Jones gives you an apple from her tree whenever you go by her house, but don't kill the goose that laid the golden egg by bothering her too much./

[kill time] <v. phr.> To cause the time to pass more rapidly; waste time. * /The plane trip to Hong Kong was long and tiring, but we managed to kill time by watching several movies./

[kill two birds with one stone] <v. phr.> To succeed in doing two things by only one action; get two results from one effort. * /Mother stopped at the supermarket to buy bread and then went to get Jane at dancing class; she killed two birds with one stone./ * /The history teacher told us that making an outline kills two birds with one stone; it makes us study the lesson till we understand it, and it gives us notes to review before the test./

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