Idioms

abreast

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abreast of (someone or something)

1. Alongside someone or something. Charlie finished the race in second place because he could not stay abreast of the winner. Captain, we're abreast of the other ship. Shall we board? Sir, there's no way we'll be able to stay abreast of them without them noticing.
2. Knowing the most current information about a person, thing, or event. Typically used with the verb "keep." There are so many software vulnerabilities that it's difficult to keep abreast of them all. I'm worried about Stu, so please keep me abreast of any changes in his health. As a news correspondent for the region, it's my job to stay abreast of any changes in the political landscape here.
See also: abreast, of

abreast of the times

Knowing the most current information about a person, thing, or event. Of course Grandpa doesn't have a cell phone—he never wants to keep abreast of the times. That senator needs to keep abreast of the times and stop saying things that are wildly inappropriate in today's world. As information becomes more readily available in a digital format, publishers are going to have to change their methods if they want to stay abreast of the times.
See also: abreast, of, times

be abreast of (someone or something)

1. To be alongside someone or something. I was abreast of my opponent for most of the race, but she pulled ahead of me at the last second. Captain, we're abreast of the other ship. Shall we board? She's abreast of them, sir—ah, but they've spotted her!
2. To be or remain closely informed about someone or something If your company is not abreast of the new cyber-security threats emerging each day, you could leave yourself vulnerable to a devastating attack in the future. It's my job to be abreast of various film and television celebrities and then write about them in our paper's weekly gossip column. As a news correspondent for the region, it's my job to be abreast of any changes in the political landscape here.
See also: abreast, of

keep abreast of (someone or something)

1. To remain alongside someone or something. Try to keep abreast of the ship until we have a chance to board.
2. To remain closely informed about someone or something; to follow the developments of someone or something. As a news correspondent for the region, it's my job to keep abreast of any changes in the political landscape here. You're the manager, so it's up to you to keep abreast of everyone in your department.
3. To cause someone to remain closely informed about someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "keep" and "abreast." Thank you for the update. Be sure to keep me abreast of any changes in the situation.
See also: abreast, keep, of

stay abreast of (someone or something)

1. To remain alongside someone or something. Charlie finished the race in second place because he could not stay abreast of the winner. Try to stay abreast of the ship until we have a chance to board.
2. To remain closely informed about someone or something; to follow the developments of someone or something. There are so many software vulnerabilities that it's difficult to stay abreast of them all. It's my job to stay abreast of various film and television celebrities and then write about them in our paper's weekly gossip column.
See also: abreast, of, stay
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*abreast of someone or something

 
1. Lit. keeping even with someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; keep ~; Stay ~.) I had to run hard to stay abreast of Sally.
2. Fig. knowing the news about someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; keep ~; Stay ~.) The press corps has to keep abreast of the president.
See also: abreast, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

keep abreast of

Stay or cause to stay up-to-date with, as in He's keeping abreast of the latest weather reports, or Please keep me abreast of any change in his condition. This term alludes to the nautical sense of abreast, which describes ships keeping up with each other. [Late 1600s]
See also: abreast, keep, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

keep aˈbreast of something

make sure that you know all the most recent facts about a subject: It is almost impossible to keep abreast of all the latest developments in computing.
See also: abreast, keep, of, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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References in periodicals archive
Peter Alhassan said the retreat thermed 'Intelligence and Operation Security in 'FRSC' is a capacity building aimed at abreast the participants on the issues of security and intelligence during their operations.
FRSC vows to reduce road crash through intelligence patrol
Lastly, they called for a show-cause issued to ex-director (Procurement and Logistics) be also chased to its logical conclusion and Senate Secretariat be kept abreast of the developments in both regards.
Govt directed to actively chase matter of PIA Airbus sale to German company
The official stressed the intensive training of the security personnel to keep abreast of the criminal shifts and ensure the necessary prevention work, in co-ordination with other competent authorities.
Crime in Bahrain down nearly 10% last year, shows data
The General Maintenance Department of Dubai Municipality, as part of its plan to keep abreast of modern applications and advanced methods of project operation, recently implemented one of the new smart applications, automatic cleaning of solar panels that are used for lighting parks, in Al Khazan Park.
Dubai Municipality installs solar panel cleaning robots
The Highway Code is quite clear about this: 'Cyclists should never ride more than two abreast and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads.'.
Follow the code or get off your bike!
At present the two-deck superjumbo seats passengers in the familiar 3-4-3 sequence, but Airbus engineers believe there is room for one more passenger in each row, meaning flyers would sit 11 abreast.
Emirates examining plans for extra seats on the A380
Especially selfish are surely the monstrous 4x4's and SUV's, which take up far more space than cyclists riding two abreast.
Selfish road users; You Say Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk
The 26 articles in this collection can keep neuroscientists abreast of trends and activities in specialties besides their own, and keep scientists in neighboring disciplines abreast of activities in the neurosciences as a whole.
Annual review of neuroscience; v.35, 2012
IPBA continues to keep our members abreast of transformations in the law and the practice of law in this region, and what we might be able to foresee in the coming years as a result of changes in our larger societal environments."
IPBA annual meet to begin on Feb. 29
Some 35 vets and nurses were kept abreast of the latest developments by one of Europe's leading specialists in the field, Dan Holden; who for eight years managed the small animal intensive care unit at Bristol University Veterinary School.
Care seminar keeps vets up to speed
They cycle both ways along the valley wearing those ridiculously looking "crash helmets", sporting even more garish looking kit, often two or three abreast. Often motorised transport is held up as it is difficult if not dangerous to overtake them as some are cycling at great speed and the road has numerous bends.
Nuisance cyclists; & COMMENT DEBATE YOUR LETTERS TO THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER OF WALES
"What it says to me is that first of all they [Embraer] agree that the optimal cross section for an airplane in the 100- to 145-seat market is five abreast and so that's again part of the reason why [the CSeries is] 12,000lb less than an [Airbus] A319.
Aerospace & Defense News - Technology Latin America / Caribbean
Three abreast: Real bargains could be had now on the axed Honda FR-V
Honda FR-V at the end of the road
IT'S four abreast seating on the A330 from Oman Air, which launched at the ITB Berlin 2009 its brand new business class seat to be installed in its fleet of Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft to be delivered later this year.
Oman Air serious with business
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