key (redirected from keyed in)

*keyed up (about something) and *keyed up (over something)

to be excited or anxious. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) Why are you so keyed up about nothing? She is keyed up over her son's health.

See also: up

A golden key can open any door.

Prov. Sufficient money can accomplish anything. Jill: I'm amazed that Sally got into a good university; her grades were so poor. Jane: Well, she comes from a wealthy family, and a golden key can open any door. Jane: How did Fred manage to get invited to the party at the country club? It's so exclusive there. Alan: Yes, but a golden key can open any door.

See also: any, can, door, golden, open

church key

a two-ended device used to remove bottle tops and to pierce a hole in can lids. I'm looking for the church key so I can open this beer. She opened the can of tomato juice with the church key.

See also: church

key someone up

to cause someone to be anxious or excited. The excitement of the moment really keyed me up. Thoughts of their vacation keyed up the children so much they couldn't sleep.

See also: up

key to success

Fig. the secret to someone's success. Bob said that the key to his success is working hard, being on time, and being extremely lucky.

See also: success

modulate to a (different) key

to change from one musical key to another by means of a musical transition. Suddenly, the organist modulated to a key that was too high for most of the singers. I will have to modulate to a lower key before I start the next hymn.

off-key

[of music or singing] off pitch; out of tune. She always sings off-key and makes the rest of the choir sound like baying hounds.

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hold the key

to provide the explanation for something that you could not previously understand Fiennes, who had been looking for the place for twenty years, became convinced that this road held the key.

See also: hold

low-key

not intended to attract a lot of attention She had requested that the funeral be a low-key affair. The reception itself was surprisingly low-key.

under lock and key 

1. kept safely in a room or container that is locked I tend to keep medicines under lock and key because of the kids.

2. in prison I think the feeling from the general public is that people like that should be kept under lock and key for the rest of their lives.

See also: and, lock

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keyed up

nervous or excited The interview went well today but now I'm too keyed up to sleep.

See also: up

under lock and key

in a safe, protected place The old man keeps such documents under lock and key.

See also: and, lock