keep company - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

keep someone company

to sit or stay with someone, especially someone who is lonely. I kept my uncle company for a few hours. He was very grateful for someone to keep him company. He gets very lonely.

See also: company, keep

keep company (with someone)

1. Lit. to spend much time with someone; to associate with or consort with someone. Bill has been keeping company with Ann for three months. Bob has been keeping company with a tough-looking bunch of boys.

2. Fig. to be courting someone. Mary and Bill are keeping company. I heard that Joe is keeping company with Jim Brown's daughter.

See also: company, keep

keep somebody company

to stay with someone so they are not alone I kept him company while he was waiting for the bus.

See also: company, keep

keep company (with somebody) (slightly formal)

1. to be connected with someone There are rumors that the singer keeps company with some very dangerous criminals.

2. to spend time together in a romantic relationship They've been keeping company for a year and plan to marry in the spring.

Usage notes: often used in this sense for a humorous effect as an old-fashioned expression for beginning a relationship with the intention of marriage

See also: company, keep

? References in classic literature
He looked at the old chair, and thought it quite too shabby to keep company with a new set of mahogany chairs and an aristocratic sofa which had just arrived from London. Grandfather's Chair by Hawthorne, Nathaniel View in context Do not then deny my request, but make our house your resort and keep company with these young men; we are old friends, and you will be quite at home with us. The Republic by Plato View in context As the conversation of fellows of this kind is of all others the most detestable to men of any sense, the cloth was no sooner removed than Mr Jones withdrew, and a little barbarously left poor Mrs Whitefield to do a penance, which I have often heard Mr Timothy Harris, and other publicans of good taste, lament, as the severest lot annexed to their calling, namely, that of being obliged to keep company with their guests. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry View in context More results

? References in classic literature

He looked at the old chair, and thought it quite too shabby to keep company with a new set of mahogany chairs and an aristocratic sofa which had just arrived from London.

Grandfather's Chair by Hawthorne, Nathaniel View in context

Do not then deny my request, but make our house your resort and keep company with these young men; we are old friends, and you will be quite at home with us.

The Republic by Plato View in context

As the conversation of fellows of this kind is of all others the most detestable to men of any sense, the cloth was no sooner removed than Mr Jones withdrew, and a little barbarously left poor Mrs Whitefield to do a penance, which I have often heard Mr Timothy Harris, and other publicans of good taste, lament, as the severest lot annexed to their calling, namely, that of being obliged to keep company with their guests.

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry View in context

More results