keep one's nose clean

keep (one's) nose clean

To behave properly; to stay out of trouble. You better keep your nose clean, kid, or you're going to run into trouble you can't handle.

See also: clean, keep, nose

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

keep one's nose clean

Stay out of trouble. For example, Dad told Brian to keep his nose clean from now on or he'd cut off his allowance. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

See also: clean, keep, nose

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 one’s nose clean

tv. to keep out of trouble, especially trouble with the law. I can keep my nose clean. Don’t worry.

See also: clean, keep, nose

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.