keep back

keep back
1) PHRASAL VERB If you keep back part of something, you do not use or give away all of it, so that you still have some to use at a later time.

[V P n (not pron)] Roughly chop the vegetables, and keep back a little to chop finely and serve as a garnish. [Also V n P]

Syn:
2) PHRASAL VERB If you keep some information back, you do not tell all that you know about something.

[V n P] Neither of them is telling the whole truth. Invariably, they keep something back. [Also V P n (not pron)]


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • keep back — {v. phr.} To refrain or be restrained from entering; remain back. * /The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when the astronauts came to town after walking on the moon./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • keep back — {v. phr.} To refrain or be restrained from entering; remain back. * /The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when the astronauts came to town after walking on the moon./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • To keep back — Keep Keep (k[=e]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Kept} (k[e^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Keeping}.] [OE. k[=e]pen, AS. c[=e]pan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.] 1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Keep — (k[=e]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Kept} (k[e^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Keeping}.] [OE. k[=e]pen, AS. c[=e]pan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.] 1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Back — Back, adv. [Shortened from aback.] 1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back. [1913 Webster] 2. To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Back and forth — Back Back, adv. [Shortened from aback.] 1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back. [1913 Webster] 2. To the place from which one came; to the place or person from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep — keepable, adj. keepability, n. /keep/, v., kept, keeping, n. v.t. 1. to hold or retain in one s possession; hold as one s own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change. 2. to hold or have the use of for a period of time: You can keep it for the… …   Universalium

  • Keep It Simple — Álbum de estudio de Van Morrison Publicación 17 de marzo de 2008 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Keep the Aspidistra Flying —   …   Wikipedia

  • Back to Methuselah — (A Metabiological Pentateuch), by George Bernard Shaw consists of a preface (An Infidel Half Century) and a series of five plays: In the Beginning: B.C. 4004 (In the Garden of Eden), The Gospel of the Brothers Barnabas: Present Day, The Thing… …   Wikipedia

  • Keep on Jumpin' — is the name of a popular 1970s Disco song and 1990s Dance classic that was written by musician Patrick Adams and Ken Morris. This track has been remade, remixed, and sampled numerous times, but only the 1978 original by Adams s group Musique and… …   Wikipedia

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