keep
verb
noun
kiːp verb
1
NOT CHANGE
不改变
to stay in a particular state, condition, or position, or to make someone or something do this （使）保持，（使）处于 linking verb 连系动词, T
keep (sb/sth) warm/safe/dry etc
We huddled around the fire to keep warm.
我们围着火堆挤成一团保暖。
keep calm/ awake/sane etc
I was struggling to keep awake.
我努力不睡着。
keep sth clean/tidy
Keep your room tidy.
保持房间整洁。
keep sb busy/amused/occupied
some toys to keep the kids amused
一些供孩子消遣的玩具
You won’t be able to keep it secret for ever.
你不可能永远保密下去。
Peter cycles to work to keep fit .
彼得骑自行车去上班以保持健康。
Don’t keep us in suspense any longer!
别再让我们心里悬着了！
keep (sb/sth) away/back/off/out etc
The police put up barriers to keep the crowds back.
警方设置了障碍物来挡住人群。
If I were you, I’d keep away from that area at night.
要是我的话，晚上我会离那个地区远远的。
a sign saying ‘Danger: Keep out’
写着“危险，请勿靠近”字样的告示牌
The little boy kept close to his mother.
那个小男孩和母亲寸步不离。
keep (sb) out of sth
Keep him out of trouble.
别让他闯祸。
You keep out of this, Mother (=do not get involved). It’s no concern of yours.
妈妈，这事你别掺和。 不关你的事。
How can I cut your hair if you won’t keep still !
你一直动来动去的话，我怎么给你剪头发！
keep left/right
keep sb/sth doing sth
Jane kept the engine running.
简让引擎保持运转状态。
2
CONTINUE DOING STH
继续做某事
also 又作 to continue doing something or to do the same thing many times Do not say ‘keep up’ doing something. Say doing something or doing something. 不要说 keep up doing something，而要说 keep doing something 或 keep on doing something。 I
keep (on) doing sth
I keep thinking about Joe, all alone in that place.
我老是想到乔，他独自一个人在那种地方。
I keep telling you, but you won’t listen!
我一再跟你说，但你就是不肯听！
She pretended not to hear, and kept on walking.
她假装没听见，继续往前走。
3
NOT GIVE BACK
不归还
to have something and not give it back to the person who had it before 保留，留下，留着 T
You can keep it. I don’t need it any more.
你留着吧，我不需要了。
4
NOT LOSE
不丢失
to continue to have something and not lose it or get rid of it 保管，保藏 T
We decided to keep our old car instead of selling it.
我们决定留着我们的旧汽车不卖。
I kept his letters for years.
我把他的信保留了许多年。
In spite of everything, Robyn’s managed to keep her sense of humor.
尽管发生了这一切，萝宾还是努力保持了她的幽默感。
5
STORE STH
存放某物
to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easily 存放，储存 T always + adv/prep
Where do you keep your tea bags?
你把茶包放哪儿啦？
George kept a bottle of whiskey under his bed.
乔治把一瓶威士忌放在床底下。
6
MAKE SB STAY IN A PLACE
让某人留在某处
to make someone stay in a place, especially a prison or hospital 监禁，关押，拘留〔尤在监狱或医院里〕 T always + adv/prep
He was kept in prison for a week without charge.
他没有被控任何罪名就被关押了一星期。
7
DELAY SB
耽搁某人
to delay someone 耽搁，延误 T
He should be here by now. What’s keeping him?
他现在本该到这儿了，什么事把他耽搁了？
8
DO WHAT YOU PROMISED
遵守诺言
to do what you have promised or agreed to do 遵守，笃守，恪守 T
keep your word/promise
How do I know you’ll keep your word?
我怎么知道你是否会遵守诺言？
patients who fail to keep their appointments
未能如约来就诊的病人
9
keep a secret
to not tell anyone about a secret that you know 保守秘密
Can I trust you to keep a secret?
我能相信你会保守秘密吗？
10
keep sth quiet/keep quiet (about sth)
10. to not say anything in order to avoid telling a secret or causing problems 别把某事说出去/（对某事）保密
11
keep a record/account/diary etc
11. to regularly record written information somewhere 定期记录/记账/写日记等
12
keep going a.keep (sb) going keep (sth) going keep going keep sb going
12. to have or to give someone enough hope and emotional strength to continue living and doing things, in a bad situation b. if you keep a business, institution, regular event etc going, you keep it open or make it continue to happen c. to continue doing something difficult d. if something keeps you going, it is enough to satisfy your need while you are waiting to get something bigger or better 足以使某人支撑下去
That woman’s been through such a lot – I don’t know how she keeps going.
那个女人经历了这么多的磨难，我不知道她是怎么坚持下来的。
Her letters were the only thing that kept me going while I was in prison.
我在监狱里的时候，她的信是我坚持下去的唯一力量。
The library costs £5 million a year to run, and the council can’t afford to keep it going.
这家图书馆一年运转费用达五百万英镑，委员会无力把它维持下去了。
Persevere and keep going until you reach your ideal weight.
咬紧牙关坚持下去，直至达到你的理想体重为止。
I’ll have a biscuit to keep me going until dinner time.
我要吃一块饼干来帮我支撑到正餐时间。
13
FOOD
食物
if food keeps, it stays fresh enough to be eaten 保鲜，保持不坏 I
Eat the salmon because it won’t keep till tomorrow.
把这条三文鱼吃了吧，搁不到明天的。
14
ANIMALS
动物
to own and look after animals 饲养 T
We keep chickens and a couple of pigs.
我们养了一些鸡和几头猪。
15
STOP OTHER PEOPLE FROM USING STH
不让别人使用某物
to stop other people from using something, so that it is available for someone 保留，留下; T
Will you keep a seat for me?
你能否给我留个座位？
16
keep sb waiting
16. to make someone wait before you meet them or see them 让某人等候
Sorry to keep you waiting – I got stuck in a meeting.
很抱歉让你久等了，我开会脱不了身。
17
keep guard/watch
17. to guard a place or watch around you all the time 守护/监视
18
SHOP
商店
to own a small business and work in it [英，过时] 开设，经营〔小商店〕 T | BrE old-fashioned
19
PROVIDE SB WITH THINGS
为某人提供东西
to provide someone with money, food etc 供养，抚养，养活 T
He did not earn enough to keep a wife and children.
他赚的钱不够养活妻儿。
keep sb in sth
There’s enough money there to keep you in champagne for a year!
那儿的钱，足够供你喝上一年的香槟酒！
20
PROTECT
保护
to guard or protect someone [正式] 护卫，保护 T | formal
The Lord bless you and keep you.
上帝赐福于你并保佑你。
His only thought was to keep the child from harm .
他唯一的念头就是要保护这孩子不受到伤害。
21
keep goal/wicket
21. to be the player in a team whose job is to protect the GOAL or WICKET 守门/防守三柱门
22
keep quiet
22. used to tell someone not to say anything or make any noise 请安静，别说话
Keep quiet! I’m trying to watch the game.
请安静！我要看比赛。
23
how are you keeping?
23. used to ask if someone is well 过得如何？过得怎么样？
‘Hi, Mark! How are you keeping?’ ‘Oh, not so bad.’
“嗨，马克！你怎么样？”“噢，马马虎虎。”
24
keep your hair/shirt on!
24. used to tell someone to be more calm, patient etc 保持冷静！ 耐心点！
25
sb can keep sth
25. used to say that you do not want or are not interested in something 由某人去做某事〔表示你对某事不感兴趣〕
She can keep her wild parties and posh friends – I like the quiet life.
随她去参加那种狂野派对、交富贵朋友吧，我喜欢过安静的生活。
26
it’ll keep
26. used to say that you can tell someone something or do something later 以后告诉你; 以后再做
‘I don’t have time to listen now.’ ‘Don’t worry, it’ll keep.’
“我现在没时间听。”“别担心，以后再告诉你。”
27 to continue to do something, although it is difficult or hard work [口] 坚持干，继续苦干 spoken
I know it’s hard, but keep at it! Don’t give up!
我知道这不容易，但要坚持下去！别放弃！
28
keep sb at sth
to force someone to continue to work hard and not let them stop 强迫某人继续苦干某事
29
keep sth back
to deliberately not tell someone all that you know about something 隐瞒某事
I got the feeling he was keeping something back.
我感觉他有什么事隐瞒着。
30
keep sth back
↔ to not show your feelings, even though you want to very much 抑制，控制〔感情〕
She was struggling to keep back the tears .
她在努力克制，不让眼泪掉下来。
31
keep sb back
↔ to prevent someone from being as successful as they could be 阻止 （妨碍 ）某人发展 （进步 ）;
Fear and stereotypes have kept women back for centuries.
许多世纪以来，恐惧和陈规束缚了女性。
32
keep sth back
↔ to not give or pay something that you were going to give [尤英] 保留 （扣留 ）某物 especially BrE
They kept back some of his wages to pay for the damage.
他们扣下了他的一部分工资来赔偿损失。
33 to prevent the size, cost, or quantity of something from increasing or being too great 控制 （限制 ）…增长
We need to keep costs down.
我们需要控制住成本。
34 to succeed in keeping food in your stomach, instead of bringing it up again out of your mouth, when you are ill 使…不吐出，使…不呕吐
I could hardly keep anything down for about three days.
大概有三天时间，我几乎是吃什么吐什么。
35 used to ask someone to make less noise 使…安静点，使…轻声点
Keep your voice down – she’ll hear you!
小点声，她会听到的！
Can you keep it down – I’m trying to work.
你能不能轻一点，我要工作。
36 to prevent a group of people from becoming as successful and powerful as the other people in a society 压制，控制
Plantation owners kept slaves down by refusing them an education.
种植园主不让奴隶受教育，以此来控制他们。
37
keep (sb/sth) from sth
to prevent someone from doing something or prevent something from happening 不让（某人）做某事; 不让（某事）发生
keep sb from (doing) sth
His ex-wife had kept him from seeing his children.
他的前妻不让他看孩子。
I hope I haven’t kept you from your work.
希望我没有妨碍你的工作。
keep sth from doing sth
Put the pizza in the bottom of the oven to keep the cheese from burning.
把比萨饼放到烤箱的底部，以免奶酪烤糊。
keep (yourself) from doing sth
The play was so boring, I could hardly keep myself from falling asleep.
这出戏太乏味了，我差点睡着了。
38
keep sth from sb
to prevent someone from knowing something, by deliberately not telling them about it 不让某人知道某事，对某人隐瞒某事;
The government had wanted to keep this information from the public.
政府本想对公众隐瞒这一消息。
39 to make someone stay in hospital because they are too ill to go home 让〔某人〕留院
They kept her in overnight for observation.
他们让她留院观察一夜。
40 to force someone to stay inside, especially as a punishment in school [英] 使〔某人〕留在屋里;〔尤指〕罚…课后留校 BrE
41 to try to stay friendly with someone, especially because this helps you 与〔某人〕友好相处〔尤因这样做对自己有利〕
It’s a good idea to keep in with the boss.
与老板和睦相处是个好主意。
42
keep sth off
↔ to prevent something from touching or harming something 使不碰到; 使避开
She held an old piece of cloth over them both to keep the rain off.
她拿了块旧布盖在他俩身上挡雨。
keep sth off sth
How are we going to keep the flies off this food?
我们怎样才能不让苍蝇飞到食物上去？
43
keep your hands off sb/sth
used to tell someone not to touch someone or something 别碰某人/某物
Keep your hands off me!
你的手别碰我！
44
keep (sb) off sth
to not eat, drink, or take something that is bad for you, or to stop someone else from eating, drinking, or taking it （使）不去吃 （喝，服用 ）有害的东西
Keep off fatty foods.
不吃高脂食物。
a programme aimed at keeping teenagers off drugs
一项旨在令青少年远离毒品的计划
45
keep off sth
to avoid talking about a particular subject, especially so that you do not upset someone [尤英] 避开某一话题〔以免激怒别人〕; especially BrE
46
keep sth off
↔ if you keep weight off, you do not get heavier again after you have lost weight 〔减肥后〕使体重保持稳定
47 if rain keeps off, it does not fall [英] 〔雨〕未下 BrE
48 to continue doing something, or to do something many times 继续; 反复做
keep on doing sth
You just have to keep on trying.
你可得继续努力。
49
keep sb on
↔ to continue to employ someone, especially for longer than you had planned 继续雇用某人，留用某人
If you’re good they might keep you on after Christmas.
你如果表现不错，圣诞节后他们或许会留用你。
50 to talk continuously about something or repeat something many times, in a way that is annoying [英，非正式] 唠叨，纠缠不休; BrE informal
[+ about ]
There’s no need to keep on and on about it!
没必要对这件事纠缠不休！
[+ at ]
If I didn’t keep on at the children, they’d never do their homework.
要不是我对孩子们反复叮嘱，他们永远不会做家庭作业。
51 to stay on a particular road, course, piece of ground etc 不离开〔某一道路、方向、地方等〕
It’s best to keep to the paths.
最好沿着小路走。
52 to do what has been decided in an agreement or plan, or what is demanded by law 遵守，遵从
Keep to the speed limits.
遵守限速规定。
53
keep to the point/subject etc
to talk or write only about the subject you are supposed to be talking about 紧扣要点/主题等
54
keep sth to sth
to prevent an amount, degree, or level from becoming higher than it should 把某物限定在某一数量 （程度或水平上 ）
Costs must be kept to a minimum .
成本必须降到最低。
55
keep sth to yourself
to not tell anyone about something 保守某事的秘密，绝口不提某事
I’d appreciate it if you kept it to yourself.
如果你能对此事保密的话，我不胜感激。
56
keep to yourself keep yourself to yourself
also 又作 to live a very quiet private life and not do many things that involve other people 离群索居，不与人来往 BrE
57
keep sth up
↔ to continue doing something 继续下去，坚持下去
I don’t think I can keep this up any longer.
我觉得我再也无法坚持下去了。
keep up the good work!
58 if a situation keeps up, it continues without stopping or changing 〔情况〕持续，保持;
How long can the economic boom keep up?
经济繁荣能持续多久？
59 to go as quickly as someone else 跟上，并驾齐驱
[+ with ]
I had to walk fast to keep up with him.
我要快走才能跟上他。
60 to manage to do as much or as well as other people 跟上，保持同步;
[+ with ]
Jack’s having trouble keeping up with the rest of the class.
杰克很难跟上班里的其他同学。
keep up with the Joneses
61 to continue to read and learn about a particular subject, so that you always know about the most recent facts, products etc 跟上，了解
[+ with ]
Employees need to keep up with the latest technical developments.
员工需要跟上最新的技术发展。
62
keep sth up
↔ to make something continue at its present level or amount, instead of letting it decrease 继续保持 （维持 ）某事物
NATO kept up the pressure on the Serbs to get out of Kosovo.
北约继续对塞尔维亚人施加压力，敦促他们撤出科索沃。
63 if one process keeps up with another, it increases at the same speed and by the same amount 跟上，与…同步
[+ with ]
Food production is not keeping up with population growth.
粮食产量未能跟上人口的增长速度。
64
keep sth up
↔ to continue to practise a skill so that you do not lose it 〔不断练习以〕保持某事物
I used to speak French, but I haven’t kept it up.
我以前会说法语，但是现在已经荒废了。
65
keep sb up
to prevent someone from going to bed [非正式] 不让某人睡觉 informal
I hope I’m not keeping you up.
希望我没有耽误你睡觉。
66
keep your spirits/strength/morale etc up
10. to stay happy, strong, confident etc, by making an effort 保持高昂的情绪/体力/士气等
We sang as we marched, to keep our spirits up.
我们唱着歌行进，以保持高昂的情绪。
67
keep up appearances
11. to pretend that everything in your life is normal and happy even though you are in trouble, especially financial trouble 〔尽管遇到钱财方面的麻烦仍〕佯装若无其事; 装门面
68 to write to, telephone, or meet a friend regularly, so that you do not forget each other 和〔朋友〕保持联系
noun
69
sb’s keep
the cost of providing food and a home for someone 某人的生活费用
earn your keep (do things in return for the things that are provided for you) 挣生活费
It’s time you got a job and started earning your keep.
你该去找工作养活自己了。
70
for keeps
for ever [非正式] 永远，永久 informal
Marriage ought to be for keeps.
婚姻应当是持久的。
71 a large strong tower, usually in the centre of a castle 〔城堡的〕主楼 C