(Have you) been keeping out of trouble?

(Have you) been keeping out of trouble?

A humorous way to ask one how they are or how they've been spending their time. I haven't seen you in so long! Been keeping out of trouble? A: "Been keeping out of trouble?" B: "Of course. With two toddlers, there's no time to get into trouble!" A: "It is so great to run into you! Have you been keeping out of trouble?" B: "Oh, yes—did I tell you I went back to school?"

See also: been, keeping, of, out

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

(I've) been keeping out of trouble.

 and (I've been) keeping out of trouble.

Fig. a standard response to a greeting inquiry that asks what one has been doing. John: What have you been doing, Fred? Fred: Been keeping out of trouble. John: Yeah. Me too. Mary: How are things, Tom? Tom: Oh, I've been keeping out of trouble.

See also: been, keeping, of, out, trouble

(Have you) been keeping out of trouble?

 and (Have you been) keeping out of trouble?; You been keeping out of trouble?

Inf. a vague greeting asking one what one has been doing. Bob: Hi, Mary. Have you been keeping out of trouble? Mary: Yeah. And you? Bob: Oh, I'm getting by. Tom: Hey, man! Been keeping out of trouble? Bob: Hell, no! What are you up to? Tom: Nothing.

See also: been, keeping, of, out

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.