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keep off

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phrasal verb [transitive]
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theykeep off
he/she/itkeeps off
present participlekeeping off
past tensekept off
past participlekept off
  1. 1
    keep something off something to not touch something, or to prevent something from touching something

    Keep the flies off the food.

    Keep your hands off! It’s mine.

  2. 2
    keep off something to not go onto a particular area of land

    Keep off the grass.

    keep someone/something off something:

    Dogs must be kept off the beach.

  3. 3
    keep off something to avoid a particular type of food or drink

    I’m trying to keep off fatty foods.

    1. a.
      to avoid mentioning a particular subject in a conversation
      keep someone off something:

      Keep him off politics, for goodness sake.

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