keep time

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keep time

1. Lit. to maintain a musical rhythm. Bob had to drop out of the band because he couldn't keep time. Since he can't keep time, he can't march, and he can't play the drums.

2. . Fig. to keep watch over the time in a game or an athletic contest. Ann kept time at all the basketball games. Whoever keeps time has to watch the referee very carefully.

3. . Fig. [for a clock or a watch] to keep track of time accurately. This watch doesn't keep time. My other watch kept time better.

See also: keep, time

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I suppose the reader never makes nonsense rhymes from sheer gladness of heart,--nursery doggerel to keep time with the rippling of the stream, or the dancing of the sun, or the beating of his heart; the gibberish of delight. The Quest of the Golden Girl by le Gallienne, Richard View in context To see two novices try to keep time with one another is very amusing. Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing Of The Dog) by Jerome, Jerome K. View in context I tried to make it keep time with the story itself, which was only superficial after all. Martin Eden by London, Jack View in context			Keep out of this! keep own counsel keep pace Keep pecker up! keep people straight keep place keep posted keep powder dry keep quiet keep shirt on Keep shirt on! keep sight of Keep smiling keep still keep sweet keep tab keep tabs on keep temper keep the ball rolling keep the home fires burning keep the peace keep the stork flying keep the wolf from the door keep things straight Keep this to yourself keep time keep to a minimum keep to oneself keep to the straight and narrow keep together keep track Keep trying keep under hat keep under wraps keep until some time keep up an act keep up appearances Keep up the good work keep up to date keep up with the Joneses keep up with the times keep watch keep watch on keep watch over keep weather eye open keep within keep within bounds keep wits about keep word Keep your chin up Keep your head down			Keep the Music Playing Keep The NSYNC Pride Alive Keep the Party Alive keep the peace keep the peace keep the peace keep the peace keep the peace Keep the Practice Keep the Quit Keep the Rubber Side Down keep the show on the road keep the show on the road keep the show on the road keep the show on the road Keep the Soul Decision Pride Alive Keep the Spectrum Alive keep the stork busy keep the stork flying Keep the Whole World Singing keep the wolf from the door keep the wolf from the door keep the wolf from the door keep the wolf from the door keep the wolf from the door Keep Them Rolling keep things straight Keep This Crap Out of This Newsgroup Keep This Office Advised Keep this to yourself keep time keep to keep to keep to keep to keep to (oneself) keep to (oneself) keep to (oneself) keep to (oneself) keep to a minimum keep to oneself keep to oneself keep to the straight and narrow Keep Toccoa Stephens County Beautiful keep together keep track keep track keep track keep track keep track Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful Keep trying Keep Tube Open keep under keep under keep under keep under keep under arrest keep under close watch keep under control keep under cover

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