keep tabs on

Idioms  

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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

keep tabs on

In November 2017, when Mbappe was a fresh-faced 18-year-old, Williams had to keep tabs on the striker for 84 minutes of an international friendly in Paris.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

It’s getting as much mileage as it can out of Murrell’s shopping spree, devising ever more elaborate graphics for readers to keep tabs on what Murrell bought with the stolen money.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Since levels of risk tolerance vary from investor to investor, it’s important for investors to keep tabs on how concentrated their positions are and what they’re comfortable with.

From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026

The WHO tries to keep tabs on these things, listing things like bird flu, Ebola, Nipah, Lassa and yes, hantavirus, as top-ranking threats to global health.

From Salon ● May 11, 2026

Inej had tried to keep tabs on the team, but someone else in the gang could have been snooping.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Related Words

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