Keep Your Chin Up Meaning Remain cheerful in a difficult situation. Origin This sounds like one of those rousing maxims that were drilled into the young of Victorian England …
Keep up With the Joneses Meaning Strive to match one’s neighbours in spending and social standing. Origin This term is 20th century American. It originated with Arthur (Pop) Momand’s …
Keep Schtum Meaning Say nothing – especially in circumstances where saying the wrong thing may get you into trouble. Origin This probably derives from the German word stumm meaning …
Keep It Up Meaning Encouragement to have someone continue with a difficult task. Example Karla’s professor encouraged her to keep up her good work after performing her first viola …
Keep It Under Your Hat Meaning Keep a secret. Example Michael Jackson told the little boys to keep it under their hat. Origin Back when men wore hats regularly, …
Keep Danger at Bay Meaning Having protective powers. Origin In ancient times the bay tree was regarded as having great protective powers. This was due to the fact that …
Keep Body and Soul Together Meaning To survive. The phrase is most often used specifically to refer to earning sufficient money to keep oneself alive. Origin The phrase derives …
Keep a Wide Berth Meaning A goodly distance. Origin ”Wide berth’ is most commonly found in the phrases ‘keep a wide berth of’, ‘give a wide berth to’ etc. …
Keep a Stiff Upper Lip Meaning Remain resolute and unemotional in the face of adversity, or even tragedy. Origin This is such a clichéd expression that it is difficult …
Keen as Mustard Meaning Very enthusiastic. Origin There are many similes in English that have the form ‘as x as y’ (see this list). ‘As keen as mustard’ is …
