keep under
C1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To maintain control over someone or something, preventing them from gaining freedom, power, or visibility.
To suppress, repress, or hold in a state of subjugation; to monitor or surveil closely; to keep something (e.g., emotions, fire, weeds) from emerging or spreading.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a transitive phrasal verb. Often implies an ongoing, active effort to maintain control or suppression. Can have negative connotations of oppression or, in neutral contexts, of prudent management.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. Minor differences may arise in collocational preferences (e.g., 'keep under control' vs. 'keep under wraps').
Connotations
Consistently carries connotations of authority, control, and suppression in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English in journalistic/political contexts, but overall usage is comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + keep + [Object] + under + [Noun Phrase (control/surveillance/etc.)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keep under one's hat (keep secret)”
- “Keep under the radar (avoid attention)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board decided to keep the merger talks under wraps until the deal was finalised.
Academic
The study examines how authoritarian regimes keep dissent under control through surveillance.
Everyday
We need to keep the dog under close watch while he's recovering from surgery.
Technical
The software has a failsafe to keep system temperatures under critical thresholds.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The security services kept the suspect under constant observation.
- It's hard to keep invasive weeds under in this climate.
American English
- The government worked to keep the protest under control.
- He kept his emotions under tight rein during the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher keeps the class under control.
- Keep the food under a cover.
- The police kept the area under surveillance for weeks.
- She kept her anger under during the argument.
- The company kept the new product launch under wraps to surprise competitors.
- Colonial powers often kept indigenous populations under harsh submission.
- The intelligence agency succeeded in keeping the double agent under its complete control for years.
- A sophisticated irrigation system is required to keep the salinity of the soil under manageable levels.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a KEEPer in a zoo holding a dangerous animal UNDER the ground in a secure enclosure.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS UP, SUBJUGATION IS DOWN (The powerful keep others 'under' them).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'держать под' for all contexts; e.g., 'keep under consideration' is better as 'take into consideration'.
- Do not confuse with 'keep up with' (успевать за).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'They kept under the problem.' Correct: 'They kept the problem under control.'
- Incorrect preposition: 'keep under of'. Correct: 'keep under'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'keep under' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'keep the situation under control' or 'keep under control the situation,' though the first is far more common.
Yes, in contexts like 'keep under observation' (for care) or 'keep under review' (for improvement), it can be neutral or positive, though the core sense of control remains.
They are similar. 'Keep down' often emphasises preventing increase or rise (e.g., keep prices down, keep your head down). 'Keep under' emphasises maintaining a state of subordination or within boundaries (under control, under surveillance).
It's very rare and non-standard. The hyphenated form might appear creatively (e.g., 'a kept-under population') but is not recognised in formal dictionaries.