keep down
Prevent from rising; suppress
Littéralement: keep (hold/stay) down (low position)
En 15 secondes
- Used to ask someone to be quieter or lower the volume.
- Common in business to describe controlling costs or prices.
- Used medically to describe the ability to digest food without vomiting.
Signification
This phrase is most commonly used to tell someone to lower the volume of their voice or a sound. It can also mean keeping a price or a number from increasing.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6At home with a loud roommate
Can you please keep the noise down? I have an exam tomorrow.
Can you please keep the noise down? I have an exam tomorrow.
In a business meeting
We need to find new ways to keep our production costs down.
We need to find new ways to keep our production costs down.
Texting a friend at a concert
I can't hear you! Keep it down so I can listen to the intro!
I can't hear you! Keep it down so I can listen to the intro!
Contexte culturel
The phrase reflects the Western cultural value of 'quiet enjoyment' of one's property. It became a standard idiomatic expression in the mid-20th century as urban living became more crowded and noise complaints became a common social issue. In business, it aligns with the 'lean' philosophy of minimizing waste and expenses.
The Pronoun Rule
If you use 'it' or 'them', always put it in the middle: 'Keep it down', never 'Keep down it'.
Don't be too blunt
Shouting 'Keep it down!' can sound rude. Add 'Could you...' or 'Please' to stay friendly.
En 15 secondes
- Used to ask someone to be quieter or lower the volume.
- Common in business to describe controlling costs or prices.
- Used medically to describe the ability to digest food without vomiting.
What It Means
Keep down is a versatile phrasal verb. Most often, it is about control. You use it when you want to stop something from rising. This could be the volume of your music. It could be the noise at a party. It could even be the cost of your monthly groceries. Think of it as putting a hand on something to stop it from going up.
How To Use It
You can use it with an object in the middle or at the end. You can say keep the noise down or keep down the noise. Both are perfectly fine. If you use a pronoun like it, you must put it in the middle: keep it down. It is a very active phrase. It implies that without effort, the thing would naturally go up or get louder.
When To Use It
Use it when your roommate is gaming too loudly at 2 AM. Use it in a library when your friend starts laughing. You will also hear it in business meetings. Managers love to talk about how to keep costs down to save money. If you are feeling sick, doctors might ask if you can keep food down. This means not throwing up. It is a very practical, everyday phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for physical height. You would not tell a child to keep down if they are growing tall. Also, do not use it for emotions like sadness. We do not say keep your sadness down. Instead, we say suppress or hide your feelings. It is mostly for sounds, numbers, or physical things like food in your stomach.
Cultural Background
In many English-speaking cultures, especially in the UK and US, there is a big focus on 'noise pollution.' People are very sensitive about their personal space and quiet time. Telling someone to keep it down is a common way to set boundaries. It is more polite than saying 'Shut up!' but it is still very firm. It shows you value peace and quiet.
Common Variations
You might hear keep the volume down or keep the levels down. In a more aggressive way, someone might just shout Keep it down! from across a room. In business, you will hear keep overheads down. This refers to the basic costs of running a company. It is all about maintaining a low, manageable level.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral and safe for most situations. Just be careful with your tone; saying it loudly can sound like a command rather than a request.
The Pronoun Rule
If you use 'it' or 'them', always put it in the middle: 'Keep it down', never 'Keep down it'.
Don't be too blunt
Shouting 'Keep it down!' can sound rude. Add 'Could you...' or 'Please' to stay friendly.
The 'Sick' Meaning
In the UK and US, if someone says they 'can't keep anything down', they are telling you they have the stomach flu. It's a polite way to say they are vomiting.
Exemples
6Can you please keep the noise down? I have an exam tomorrow.
Can you please keep the noise down? I have an exam tomorrow.
A polite but direct request for silence.
We need to find new ways to keep our production costs down.
We need to find new ways to keep our production costs down.
Professional usage regarding financial control.
I can't hear you! Keep it down so I can listen to the intro!
I can't hear you! Keep it down so I can listen to the intro!
Informal use among friends in a loud environment.
Try to drink some water and see if you can keep it down.
Try to drink some water and see if you can keep it down.
Refers to the stomach's ability to hold food/liquid.
I must ask you to keep your voices down in the study area.
I must ask you to keep your voices down in the study area.
Formal request in a public space.
Hey buddy, keep it down! The squirrels aren't that scary!
Hey buddy, keep it down! The squirrels aren't that scary!
Humorous way to tell a pet to stop barking.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct way to complete the sentence.
The baby is sleeping, so please ___ your voice ___.
We use 'keep [something] down' to refer to lowering the volume of noise or voices.
Which word fits best in a business context?
Our goal this quarter is to ___ expenses ___.
'Keep expenses down' is a standard business collocation meaning to limit spending.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Keep it down'
Shouting at a friend
Keep it down, guys!
Asking a neighbor
Could you keep the music down?
Official business goal
We must keep expenditure down.
Where to use 'Keep down'
Library
Keep your voices down.
Hospital
Can you keep the soup down?
Office
Keep the costs down.
Late Night
Keep the TV down.
Banque d exercices
2 exercicesThe baby is sleeping, so please ___ your voice ___.
We use 'keep [something] down' to refer to lowering the volume of noise or voices.
Our goal this quarter is to ___ expenses ___.
'Keep expenses down' is a standard business collocation meaning to limit spending.
🎉 Score : /2
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, you can say keep my weight down. It means you are trying to prevent your weight from increasing.
Not exactly. Shut up tells someone to stop talking entirely. Keep it down just asks them to be quieter.
Yes, in an emergency or a game, you might tell someone to keep down to avoid being seen.
You can write, 'We are implementing measures to keep operational costs down.' This sounds very professional.
No, it is a standard phrasal verb used in both casual and professional English.
There isn't a direct opposite phrasal verb like 'keep up' for noise. You would usually say 'turn it up' or 'speak up'.
It is more common to say keep the lights low or keep the lights dimmed.
Yes, in a political context, keep them down can mean to prevent a group of people from having power or success.
If your hair is frizzy, you might say you are trying to keep it down using hairspray.
Both work! Use keep it down when the listener already knows what noise you are talking about.
Expressions liées
Turn down (lower the volume)
Hold down (prevent from moving/rising)
Keep a lid on (control a situation)
Pipe down (slang for be quiet)
Keep under control (maintain order)
