keep down
B2Neutral to Informal
Definition
Meaning
To prevent something from rising, increasing, or becoming visible or known.
To control or suppress something; to manage to retain food or drink in one's stomach; to prevent someone from advancing or achieving their potential.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a phrasal verb. The meaning is highly dependent on the direct object (e.g., keep down costs, keep down food, keep down a rebellion). Can imply force, control, or difficulty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Keep down' in the sense of 'not vomit' is slightly more common in UK informal speech. The business sense ('keep costs down') is universal.
Connotations
In both varieties, can carry connotations of oppression (keeping people down) or prudent management (keeping expenses down).
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] keep down [Direct Object][Subject] keep [Direct Object] downVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keep your head down (avoid attention/trouble).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential for discussing cost control: 'We must keep down overheads to remain competitive.'
Academic
Used in social/political sciences: 'Policies designed to keep down dissent.'
Everyday
Common for discussing sickness or noise: 'I can't keep any food down.' 'Keep the noise down, please.'
Technical
In gardening/agriculture: 'Mulch helps keep down weeds.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government tried to keep down public unrest.
- After the surgery, she couldn't keep down anything but water.
American English
- We need to keep prices down to attract customers.
- He kept his head down during the meeting to avoid being called on.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please keep your voice down.
- The medicine will help keep the pain down.
- They work hard to keep their costs down.
- I was so ill I couldn't keep my breakfast down.
- The regime used force to keep down any opposition.
- Mulching in autumn helps keep the weeds down.
- Accusations of elitism have kept down voter turnout among certain demographics.
- The company's strategy of outsourcing kept labour costs ruthlessly down.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine pressing a lid DOWN on a boiling pot to KEEP the steam from rising. You are KEEPing it DOWN.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS HOLDING DOWN (Suppressing a problem is physically holding it beneath a surface).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'keep up' (поддерживать, не отставать). 'Keep down' is about suppression/prevention, not maintenance. The Russian 'сдерживать' is often a good fit.
Common Mistakes
- *I keep down to study every night. (Incorrect: this confuses 'keep down' with 'keep up with' or 'settle down'). Correct: 'I keep my spending down.'
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'keep down' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'keep down the noise' or 'keep the noise down'.
'Put down' implies an active, often forceful, action to end something that has already risen. 'Keep down' implies ongoing prevention or suppression to stop it from rising in the first place.
Yes, when referring to prudent management, e.g., 'keeping costs down' is a positive, responsible action. Its connotations become negative when applied to people ('keeping a population down'), implying oppression.
Yes. It means to avoid attention or trouble, often by being quiet or inconspicuous. It is related to the core meaning of preventing something (your head) from rising into view.