keep *****

[kiːp] kept vb: pt, pp

1. vt

1) (retain, maintain) tenere

keep the change — tenga il resto

you can keep it — lo puoi tenere

he keeps himself to himself — se ne sta per conto suo

to keep sb busy — tenere qn occupato (-a)

the noise kept him awake — il rumore lo teneva sveglio

to keep time — (clock) andar bene

to keep sth clean — tenere qc pulito (-a)

to keep a place tidy — tenere un posto in ordine

she keeps herself fit — si tiene or si mantiene in forma

the garden is well kept — il giardino è tenuto bene

he has kept his looks — è ancora un bell'uomo

to keep sb waiting — far aspettare qn

sorry to keep you ... — scusate il ritardo...

keep him at it! — spingilo a continuare!

to keep the engine running — tenere il motore acceso

I'll keep you to your promise — ti farò mantenere la promessa

to keep sth from sb fig — tenere qc nascosto (-a) a qn

to keep sth to o.s. — tenere qc per sé

keep it to yourself or under your hat fam — tienilo per te

2) (put aside) mettere da parte, (store) tenere, conservare

keep it in a safe place or somewhere safe — tienilo in un posto sicuro

"keep in a cool place" — "conservare in un luogo fresco"

3) (detain, restrain) trattenere

to keep sb in prison — tenere qn in prigione

I mustn't or don't let me keep you — non voglio trattenerti

what kept you? — come mai sei in ritardo?

to keep sb from doing sth — impedire a qn di fare qc

to keep sth from happening — impedire che qc succeda

to keep o.s. from doing sth — trattenersi dal fare qc

you're keeping me from my work — mi stai impedendo di lavorare, così non riesco a lavorare

keep him from school — non mandarlo a scuola

4) (fulfil, observe: promise, vow) mantenere, (law, rule, Lent) osservare, (treaty, agreement) rispettare, (Christmas, Easter) celebrare

to keep a secret — tenere un segreto

to keep an appointment — rispettare un appuntamento

5) (own, have), (also), (Comm: stock) avere, (Agr: animals) allevare

6) (support: family) mantenere

he earns enough to keep himself — guadagna abbastanza per mantenersi da solo

to keep sb in food and clothing — nutrire e vestire qn

7) (accounts, diary) tenere

to keep a record or note of sth — prendere nota di qc

keep a note of how much you spend — segnati quanto spendi

2. vi

1) (continue) continuare, (remain) stare, restare

to keep (to the) left/right — tenere la sinistra/la destra

to keep straight on — continuare dritto (-a)

to keep to — (promise) mantenere, (subject, text) attenersi a

to keep doing sth — continuare a fare qc

I keep forgetting my keys — continuo a dimenticare le chiavi

to keep fit — tenersi or mantenersi in forma

to keep in good health — mantenersi in buona salute

keep trying! — prova ancora!

keep going! — forza!

to keep at sb — (fam: pester) non dare pace a qn

to keep at sth — (fam: continue) continuare a fare qc

keep at it! fam — continua, dai!

to keep still — stare or rimanere fermo (-a)

to keep quiet — stare zitto (-a)

to keep together — rimanere insieme

to keep from doing sth — trattenersi or frenarsi dal fare qc

to keep to one's room/bed — rimanere in camera/a letto

they keep to themselves — si tengono in disparte, stanno per conto loro

2)

(in health) how are you keeping? — come stai?

I hope you're keeping well — spero che tu stia bene

she's keeping better — sta meglio

3) (food) mantenersi, conservarsi

(fig: wait) this business can keep — quest'affare può aspettare

3. n

1) (livelihood) vitto e alloggio

to earn one's keep — guadagnarsi di che vivere

2) (of castle) torrione m, maschio

See:

keeps

•

- keep away

- keep back

- keep down

- keep in

- keep off

- keep on

- keep out

- keep up