An Asperger Dictionary of Everyday Expressions: Second Edition by Ian Stuart-Hamilton

Author:Ian Stuart-Hamilton [Stuart-Hamilton, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-01-08T01:06:00+00:00

K

Kangaroo court Self-appointed group of people who decide if a person is guilty of something. The phrase is usually used as a condemnatory phrase of groups of workers who decide they are the fit judges of other workers and what is an appropriate reward or punishment for other people's actions.*

Kangaroos loose in the top paddock Insane, eccentric or intellectually ungifted.*

Keen as mustard Eager.*

Keep a dog and bark yourself See you don't keep a dog and bark yourself.

Keep a lid on (1) Keep under control. (2) Keep secret.*

Keep a straight face Maintain a facial expression and demeanour of calmness although having a strong need to laugh or smile.*

Keep an ear out for Listen for a specified event to happen (e.g. `keep an ear out for the doorbell ringing').*

Keep an eye on Watch and/or attend to.*

Keep an eye out for Watch for a specified event to happen (e.g. `keep an eye out for their car arriving').*

Keep at arm's length See arm's length.

Keep at bay Prevent someone or something having an effect by preventing them from doing something. The origin of the phrase is probably similar to that for bring to bay.*

Keep balls in the air To run several tasks at the same time.*

Keep cave Keep lookout.*

Keep half an eye on Watch and/or attend to whilst concurrently doing something else. The phrase is often used to indicate that something is not being done with sufficient attention.*

Keep in shape Maintain physical fitness.*

Keep in shoe leather Have a subsistence wage.*

Keep in the dark Withhold information from.*

Keep in touch Maintain regular communication.*

Keep it at bay Prevent something from attacking or otherwise having an effect or influence.*

Keep mum To remain silent, or to keep a secret. See mum's the word.*

Keep nose to the grindstone Keep working hard. The phrase may imply working hard at a difficult or boring job, or may be used jokingly to describe work

that is either undemanding or only of average difficulty.*

Keep on an even keel Keep things relatively safe and secure.*

Keep open house Be hospitable.*

Keep options open Means the same as leave options open.

Keep out of their hair (1) Avoid. (2) Not annoy.*

Keep passing the open windows Don't do anything foolish. The phrase originated as advice to dissuade people contemplating suicide by jumping from a high window.*

Keep regular hours Be predictable in their behaviour.*

Keep tabs on Follow or keep informed about.*

Keep taking the tablets joking comment implying that someone is behaving in an eccentric or illogical manner (i.e. that they are acting as if insane and should be on medication).*

Keep the ball rolling Keep an activity going; the phrase is often used to describe keeping a conversation going by introducing new things to talk about when people are tired of the topic being discussed.*

Keep the flag flying Maintain support for, or representation of, something or someone in spite of difficulties.*

Keep the pot boiling Maintain interest in something.*

Keep the wolf from the door Have enough money and possessions to avoid being homeless, suffer effects of poverty, hunger, etc. The phrase is often used facetiously.*

Keep their cool Remain calm.

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