for keeps
Idioms-
For the winner to retain, as in You can't take the marbles back; we were playing for keeps . [Mid-1800s]
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For an indefinitely long time, forever, as in She is leaving town for keeps .
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In earnest, seriously, as in We're separating for keeps . [Late 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I’d been friendly with the group before, but now we were bonded for keeps.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 25, 2025
He kept an eye out for Selener — and now he has her for keeps.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024
"Penny Lane is in our ears and in our eyes - and this time it's for keeps."
From BBC • Nov. 28, 2023
Jalen McDaniels came off the bench to score 16 points, hitting a 3-pointer to put Charlotte ahead for keeps with 8:18 left.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2021
The knockout possibilities knock Dorcas out because here—with grown-ups and as in war—people play for keeps.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
