[keep open house]{v. phr.} To offer hospitality and entertain thosewho come at any given time on a certain day or afternoon. •/Beth and Charliehave a cottage by the lake where they keep open house on Saturday afternoonsduring the summer./

[keep out (of)]{v. phr.} 1. To stay out; remain out of. •/The signon 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 immigrantsout of the United States./

[keep pace]{v. phr.} To go as fast; go at the same rate; not getbehind. •/When they go for a walk, Johnny has to take long steps to keep pacewith his father./ •/When Billy was moved to a more advanced class, he hadto work hard to keep pace./ Compare: KEEP UP(2a).

[keep plugging along]{v. phr.}, {informal} To continue to workdiligently and with great effort, often against hardship. •/Bob was notparticularly talented but he kept plugging along year after year, andeventually became vice president./

[keeps] See: FOR KEEPS.

[keep step with]{v. phr.} To maintain the same degree of progress assomeone else. •/The United States has no choice but to keep step withpotential enemies in terms of modern defense systems./

[keep tab on] or [keep tabs on] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Tokeep a record of. •/The government tries to keep tabs on all the animals inthe park./ 2. To keep a watch on; check. •/The house mother kept tabs onthe girls to be sure they were clean and neat./ Compare: KEEP TRACK OF.

[keep the ball rolling]{v. phr.}, {informal} To keep up anactivity 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 onhis head./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.

[keep the faith]{v. phr.} To not abandon hope; stay committed to thecause of democracy and racial equality. •/"Keep the faith, Baby," my neighborsaid as he raised his fingers to show the "V" for victory sign./

[keep the home fires burning]{v. phr.} To keep things going as usualwhile someone is away; wait at home to welcome someone back. •/While John wasin 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 Imust do something to keep the wolves from the door."/ Compare: KEEP BODY ANDSOUL TOGETHER.

[keep things humming]{v. phr.} To cause thing to perform smoothly andefficiently. •/Until Mr. Long joined our computer center, we had all sorts ofproblems, but he has corrected them and really keeps things humming./

[keep time]{v. phr.} 1. To show the right time. •/My watch has notkept good time since I dropped it./ 2. To keep the beat; keep the samerhythm; keep in step. •/Many people are surprised at how well deaf peoplekeep time with the music when they dance./

[keep to oneself] See: TO ONESELF(2).

[keep track]{v. phr.} To know about changes; stay informed orup-to-date; keep a count or record. •/What day of the week is it? I can’tkeep track./ — Usually used with "of". •/Mr. Stevens kept track of hisbusiness by telephone when he was in the hospital./ •/The farmer has somany chickens, he can hardly keep track of them all./ Compare: IN TOUCH, KEEPUP(3). Contrast: LOSE TRACK.

[keep under one’s hat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To keep secret; nottell. •/Mr. Jones knew who had won the contest, but he kept it under his hatuntil it was announced publicly./ — Often used as a command. •/Keep itunder your hat./ Syn.: KEEP TO ONESELF.

[keep up]{v.} 1a. To go on; not stop; continue. •/The rain kept upfor 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 upthe good work./ •/The teacher asked Dick to stop bothering Mary, but hekept it up./ Compare: KEEP AT. 2a. To go at the same rate as others. •/Johnhad to work hard to keep up./ •/Billy was the youngest boy on the hike, buthe kept up with the others./ Compare: CATCH UP, KEEP PACE. Contrast: FALLBEHIND, GET BEHIND(1). 2b. To keep (something) at the same level or rate or ingood 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 alwayskeeps up with the news./ Compare: KEEP TRACK.

[keep up appearances]{v. phr.} To maintain an outward show ofprosperity in spite of financial problems. •/Mr. Smith’s widow had a hardtime 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; tryto be equal with your neighbors. •/Mrs. Smith kept buying every new thingthat was advertised, finally Mr. Smith told her to stop trying to keep up withthe Joneses and to start thinking for herself./

[keep watch]{v. phr.} To be vigilant; be alert; guard. •/The policehave 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 itwas another kettle of fish — his car had disappeared./ — Usually used with"pretty", "fine", "nice", but meaning bad trouble. •/He had two flat tiresand no spare on a country road at night, which was certainly a pretty kettle offish./ •/This is a fine kettle of fish! I forgot my book./ Compare: CUPOP TEA(2).

[key] See: LOW KEY, OFF-KEY.

[keyed up]{adj.}, {informal} Excited; nervous; anxious to dosomething. •/Mary was all keyed up about the exam./ •/Mother would notlet 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 againstrules or authority in a way that just hurts yourself. •/Johnny kicked againstthe pricks in his foster home until he learned that he could trust his newfamily./

[kick around]{v.}, {informal} 1. To act roughly or badly to; treatbadly; bully. •/John likes to kick around the little boys./ •/Mr. Jonesis always kicking his dog around./ Syn.: PUSH AROUND. 2. To lie around or ina place; be treated carelessly; be neglected. •/This old coat has beenkicking around the closet for years./ •/The letter kicked around on my deskfor 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 ideaof 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; becomeexperienced. •/Harry has kicked around all over the world as a merchantseaman./ Compare: HAS BEEN AROUND.

[kick back]{v.}, {slang}, {informal} To pay money illegallyfor favorable contract arrangements. •/I will do it if you kick back a fewhundred for my firm./