keep off

British  

verb

1. to stay or cause to stay at a distance (from)

2. (preposition) not to eat or drink or prevent from eating or drinking

3. (preposition) to avoid or cause to avoid (a topic)

4. (intr, adverb) not to start

   the rain kept off all day

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keep off Idioms  

1. Ward off, avert, as in She used a bug spray to keep off the mosquitoes . [Mid-1500s]

2. Stay away from, not touch or trespass on; also, prevent from touching or trespassing. For example, They put up a sign asking the public to keep off their property , or Please keep your feet off the sofa . [Late 1500s] Also see hands off .

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Example Sentences

Since 2020, those Send debts have been kept off local authority books by a "statutory override" – which had been extended to 2027-28.

From BBC

It hit the number one spot in its first week in Japan and the USA, and was only kept off the top in the UK by Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.

From BBC

The song debuted at number two on the US Billboard 100 chart, and Drake expressed frustration at being kept off the top spot by Alex Warren's hit Ordinary.

From BBC

"Despite this record expenditure - which importantly is being artificially kept off local authority balance sheets - we recognise that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the system," he said.

From BBC

However, the patient later died and a separate investigation was launched, as a result of which Miss Thorpe was kept off work for a total of two years.

From BBC

Related Words

• avert
• avoid
• deflect
• rebuff
• rebut
• reject
• repel
• repulse
• resist
• spurn