keep tabs on

1. Observe carefully, keep a record of. For example, I hate having my boss keep tabs on my every move, or We've got to keep tabs on outgoing mail so we can keep track of postage. This expression uses to tab in the sense of “an account.” [Late 1800s] Also see keep track.

Example Sentences

Court records show Piscatella continued to use law enforcement databases to keep tabs on Ortega in the months that followed.

From Los Angeles Times

Loftus-Cheek thought he would be in with a "shout" of getting called up to the England squad as he knew the manager would be "keeping tabs on him".

From BBC

Shakespeare casts himself as the carriage driver, allowing him to tag along and keep tabs on the cockeyed direction his play is going.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, Bruins athletic director Martin Jarmond will be keeping tabs on another bottom line — following up a successful Big Ten debut with something far bigger.

From Los Angeles Times

Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea were also keeping tabs on the Slovenia international earlier in the window.

From BBC

Related Words

• attend 
• check out 
• examine 
• follow 
• listen 
• look 
• observe 
• regard 
• scan 
• scrutinize 
• see 
• stare 
• view 
• wait