keep off
Britishverb
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to stay or cause to stay at a distance (from)
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(preposition) not to eat or drink or prevent from eating or drinking
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(preposition) to avoid or cause to avoid (a topic)
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(intr, adverb) not to start
the rain kept off all day
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Ward off, avert, as in She used a bug spray to keep off the mosquitoes . [Mid-1500s]
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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 .
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.
Dennis' first ever story, in black and white, involved him getting into trouble for failing to heed a warning to keep off the grass.
From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026
In mid-December, however, Lilly produced new data showing that it worked well at helping patients keep off weight they had previously lost on Lilly’s injectable Zepbound and Novo’s injectable Wegovy.
From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025
The findings indicate that people may need to remain on tirzepatide to keep off the pounds.
From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2023
Variety was critical of Alberta, and accused the reporter of using material in his story that he had agreed to keep off the record — a serious charge of malfeasance against a journalist.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2023
The king plunged into the fire with his teeth clenched, holding the leather cloak before him to keep off the flames.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
