for keeps

Idioms  

1. For the winner to retain, as in You can't take the marbles back; we were playing for keeps . [Mid-1800s]

2. For an indefinitely long time, forever, as in She is leaving town for keeps .

3. In earnest, seriously, as in We're separating for keeps . [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

I’d been friendly with the group before, but now we were bonded for keeps.

From The Wall Street Journal

He kept an eye out for Selener — and now he has her for keeps.

From Los Angeles Times

"Penny Lane is in our ears and in our eyes - and this time it's for keeps."

From BBC

Calista nodded after I named each one, like she was plugging them into her brain for keeps.

From Literature

He said this third coaching farewell is for keeps.

From Los Angeles Times