5 'KEEP' Idioms

source:  AlexESLvid
http://www.engvid.com/ If you are interested in improving your vocabulary and conversational ability, you should keep this lesson in mind. In it, you will learn five very common English idioms that use the verb 'keep.' The idioms in this video include 'keep your word,' 'keep someone posted,' 'keep an eye out,' 'keep a straight face,' and 'keep something/someone in mind.' Check it out! http://www.engvid.com/5-keep-idioms/


Hi, guys. I'm Alex. Thanks for clicking, and welcome to this lesson on idioms with "keep". So in this lesson, we will look at five very common idioms which all use the word "keep" in some way, and just like my lessons on idioms with "out", you have some definitions at the bottom. So you can try and figure out the meaning of the idiom if you have never heard it before.

So let's begin. The first sentence says, "Don't trust him. He never keeps his word." Now, I know in some other languages you probably have a similar idiom already. So if you can translate this from your own language, or if you can try and guess what the meaning of "keeping your word" is, I think you can guess the definition. So is it "to remember and think about something" or "to watch for the arrival or appearance of someone or something"? "Is it to uphold a promise"? Yeah, that's right. It is "to uphold a promise". Okay, so No. 1, if you can keep a promise, you can "keep your word". So if I say, "I always keep my word. Don't worry." That means I always keep my promises. If I say I will do something, I do it.

Okay. No. 2, "Keep me posted about your decision." So again, imagine that you are somebody who is giving a job to someone, and you offer them a new position, and they say, "Well, I need a few days to think about it." And if you say, "Keep me posted about your decision", this means, "Make sure that I know" or "Give me information." "Make sure -- keep me updated." So this means -- what do you think? "Keep someone informed", right. So if you "keep someone posted" about something, it means you keep them informed -- give them regular updates. They always know what's happening, okay?

The next one, "Keep an eye out for a red van." So imagine that you are at the airport, and maybe you called a friend, and the friend said, "Okay, I'll pick you up in 30 minutes." And you're with someone who doesn't know your friend. So you tell this person, "Keep an eye out for a red van." We're looking for a red van so we can go home from the airport. Well, if you're "keeping an eye out", what are you doing? You're "watching for the arrival or appearance of something or someone", okay? So again, think about it logically: "Keep an eye out." So you're looking for something, you're paying attention. So, "keep an eye out" for -- if you have a friend, and you're expecting their arrival. Or "Keep an eye out for Josh" or John or whoever it is.

Okay, guys, No. 4 says, "She can never keep a straight face -- keep a straight face -- when she talks to her boss." Maybe her boss is a funny guy, or maybe she always feels that -- well, maybe she doesn't like her boss and she wants to laugh in his face for some reason. So if you "keep a straight face", this means that you keep yourself from laughing. You hold your laughter inside because in this situation, maybe it's not appropriate to laugh. So if you can -- "remember and think about something"? No. You "keep your face from laughing". Sorry about that. There we go. Okay. So what are some situations where you have to "keep a straight face"? Anything where it's serious or formal. If you're at a funeral, number one, you generally have to "keep a straight face", be serious, not laugh. If you want to be sarcastic towards your friends and make them believe something, you might want to say something with a "straight face". And they're like, "Really?" And if you laugh, they know you're lying, or you're trying to play a trick or a joke on them.

Okay, finally, we have, "If you need an extra person on the team, keep me in mind." There's only one left, so "remember and think about something". So if you "keep someone in mind" -- you can keep something or someone "in mind". If you keep a person "in mind" for something, it means that you're remembering them or thinking about them based on whatever decision you're trying to make or based on whatever the situation is. You can also keep something "in mind", not only a person "in mind". So if I say -- okay, let's say that we make plans, and you're normally late. You're a person who's usually late, but for this movie -- let's imagine that it's the opening day of the movie, and you can't be late or you will not get a seat. So your friend tells you, "Keep in mind that it's the opening night." "Remember. Keep in mind it's the opening night. Be there early. You have to."

Vocabulary POLITICS (upper intermediate and advanced) Lesson 9

source: MrSkypelessons     2015年3月29日

bring in new laws / legislation
cut / reduce / slash the defence budget
raise (increase) taxes or interest rates
ease (loosen) or tighten monetary policy
vote for a candidate
a general election
a by election
a referendum
declare independence / war / a ceasefire
seize (take) power
hostility / violence / disease / war breaks out

military coup
bring down / overthrow / topple the regime (a dictator)
abolish / restore the monarchy
enter into (launch) negotiations
broker a ceasefire / an agreement
settle a dispute
bow to pressure
issue a statement
decline to comment
clarify your position
mislead the electorate
leak a story to the press

run for president / parliament
stand for lower taxes
stand up for the poor
stand down as (minister of foreign affairs)
Objective / biased reporting
Conservative (Tory) = right wing
Labour (socialist) = left wing
Liberal Democrats = centre
UKIP = independence party