keep to
يلتزم بـ
Wörtlich: stay close to / remain near
Use it to show you are staying focused on a plan, schedule, or specific path.
In 15 Sekunden
- Following a plan or schedule without changing it.
- Staying on a specific path or side of the road.
- Being disciplined about rules or a chosen diet.
- Staying private or quiet by 'keeping to yourself'.
Bedeutung
It means following a specific plan, schedule, or rule without changing it or getting distracted. You use it when you want to stay on track and not wander off into other things.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6In a business meeting
We only have thirty minutes, so please keep to the agenda.
We only have thirty minutes, so please stick to the plan.
Giving driving directions
When you reach the fork in the road, keep to the right.
When you reach the fork in the road, stay on the right side.
Discussing a diet with a friend
It is really hard to keep to a strict diet during the holidays.
It is really hard to follow a strict diet during the holidays.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase reflects a Western cultural emphasis on order, punctuality, and following established protocols. It is deeply rooted in the industrial era's need for strict schedules and standardized procedures. In the UK, it is famously associated with public safety signs and 'proper' social etiquette.
The 'Stick' Alternative
If you want to sound more casual with friends, swap 'keep to' for 'stick to'. It's more common in texting!
Don't Split It
Unlike some phrasal verbs, you can't put the object in the middle. It's always 'keep to the rules', never 'keep the rules to'.
In 15 Sekunden
- Following a plan or schedule without changing it.
- Staying on a specific path or side of the road.
- Being disciplined about rules or a chosen diet.
- Staying private or quiet by 'keeping to yourself'.
What It Means
Keep to is all about staying inside the lines. Imagine you have a map or a list of rules. When you keep to them, you don't wander off the path. It is about discipline and focus. You are choosing to stick with what was originally decided. It feels very reliable and steady.
How To Use It
Usually, you follow keep to with a noun. You can keep to the plan, keep to the schedule, or keep to the script. It is a phrasal verb that does not like to be split up. You wouldn't say "keep the plan to." Keep them together like best friends. It works for physical paths too, like keep to the left while driving.
When To Use It
Use this when you are at work and need to finish a meeting on time. Tell your team, "Let's keep to the agenda." Use it when you are giving someone directions. It is perfect for talking about habits or diets. If you are trying to eat healthy, you keep to your diet even when pizza is calling your name.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for people in a romantic way. You don't keep to a person; you stick with them. Also, avoid it for physical objects you are holding. If you are holding an umbrella, you don't keep to it. You just hold it. It is mostly for abstract things like time, rules, and paths.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, especially in the UK and US, time is money. Being punctual is a big deal. Phrases like keep to the schedule reflect this cultural value of efficiency. There is also a famous British sign that says Keep to the Left. It is a polite but firm way of maintaining order in public spaces.
Common Variations
You might hear keep to yourself. This is a bit different. It means being shy or private. If someone keeps to themselves, they don't talk to many people. Another one is stick to. Stick to is more informal and a bit more aggressive. Keep to sounds a little more organized and professional.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and works in almost any setting. Be careful with 'keep to yourself' as it changes the meaning from 'following a plan' to 'being solitary'.
The 'Stick' Alternative
If you want to sound more casual with friends, swap 'keep to' for 'stick to'. It's more common in texting!
Don't Split It
Unlike some phrasal verbs, you can't put the object in the middle. It's always 'keep to the rules', never 'keep the rules to'.
The Introvert's Phrase
In the UK, saying someone 'keeps to themselves' is often a polite way to say they are quiet, and it's usually seen as a respectful observation, not a direct insult.
Beispiele
6We only have thirty minutes, so please keep to the agenda.
We only have thirty minutes, so please stick to the plan.
Used here to ensure efficiency and save time.
When you reach the fork in the road, keep to the right.
When you reach the fork in the road, stay on the right side.
Refers to a physical path or direction.
It is really hard to keep to a strict diet during the holidays.
It is really hard to follow a strict diet during the holidays.
Shows discipline regarding a personal goal.
Let's keep to the original plan and meet at 8 PM.
Let's stick to the original plan and meet at 8 PM.
Confirms a previous agreement.
I tried to keep to my 'one drink' rule, but then they brought out the punch.
I tried to follow my 'one drink' rule, but then they brought out the punch.
Humorous admission of failing to stay disciplined.
He is a nice man, but he mostly keeps to himself.
He is a nice man, but he mostly stays alone.
Uses the variation 'keep to oneself' meaning to be private.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct word to complete the professional request.
To finish on time, we must ___ to the schedule.
The collocation 'keep to the schedule' is the standard way to express following a timeline.
Complete the sentence about personal habits.
She prefers to ___ to herself during lunch breaks.
'Keep to oneself' is a fixed idiom meaning to avoid socializing.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Keep to'
Using 'stick to' instead.
Stick to the plan!
Standard everyday use.
Keep to the path.
Official instructions or legal rules.
Participants must keep to the regulations.
Where to use 'Keep to'
Driving
Keep to the left lane.
Work
Keep to the budget.
Social
He keeps to himself.
Health
Keep to a routine.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, they are very similar. Stick to is more informal and common in casual speech, while keep to is slightly more polite or formal.
Only in the phrase keep to yourself. You cannot say 'I keep to my boss' to mean you follow him.
Absolutely. It sounds professional and clear, like in Please keep to the deadline.
It is a physical instruction. It means stay on the left side of the road or hallway.
Yes, it is. It consists of the verb keep and the preposition to which together create a new meaning.
It is more common to say keep a promise. However, you can say keep to your word.
The opposite would be deviate from or stray from a plan or path.
Simply say keep to the schedule. For example: 'We must keep to the schedule to finish by 5 PM.'
Yes, the past tense is kept to. Example: 'He kept to his diet all summer.'
Not necessarily. It just describes someone who is private. However, telling someone to keep to yourself can be a bit cold.
Verwandte Redewendungen
stick to
adhere to
abide by
follow through
stay on track
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