If you keep the number, size, or amount of something down, you do not let it get bigger or go higher.
The prime aim is to keep inflation down. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
Administration costs were kept down to just £460. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
2. phrasal verb
If someone keeps a group of people down, they prevent them from getting power and status and being completely free.
There is no holding her back or keeping her down. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
[Also VERBPARTICLE noun]
3. phrasal verb
If you keep food or drink down, you manage to swallow it properly and not vomit, even though you feel sick.
I tried to give her something to drink but she couldn't keep it down. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
See full dictionary entry for keep
keep down in British English
verb(adverb, mainly tr)
1.
to repress; hold in submission
2.
to restrain or control
he had difficulty keeping his anger down
3.
to cause not to increase or rise
prices were kept down for six months
4. (intransitive)
not to show oneself to one's opponents; lie low
5.
to cause (food) to stay in the stomach; not vomit
Examples of 'keep down' in a sentence
keep down
I do my best to keep down my fat intake but I do draw the line at those dreadful low-fat spreads.
Adam, Paul A NASTY DOSE OF DEATH
Like so many paper mills, the economics of scale keep increasing so as to keep down production costs.
Malcolm, John THE GWEN JOHN SCULPTURE
Chinese translation of 'keep down'
keep down
vt
(= control)[prices, spending]控制 (kòngzhì)
⇒ We want to try and keep costs down.我们想尽量压缩费用。 (Wǒmen xiǎng jǐnliàng yāsuō fèiyòng.)
(= not vomit)[food]咽(嚥)下 (yànxià)
⇒ I can't keep anything down, not even water.我什么都咽不下，连水都不行。 (Wǒ shénme dōu yàn bù xià, lián shuǐ dōu bù xíng.)
See keep
Nearby words of
keep down
keep
keep away
keep back
keep down
keep fit
keep from
keep in
All related terms of 'keep down'
keep up
( maintain : standards ) 维(維)持 wéichí ⇒ It's important to keep up our standards. → 维持水准是很重要的。 Wéichí shuǐzhǔn shì hěn zhòngyào de.
keep to
( observe : agreement ) 遵守 zūnshǒu
keep out
( intruder, unwelcome visitor ) 阻拦(攔) zǔlán ⇒ a guard dog to keep out intruders → 阻止闯入者的看家狗 zǔzhǐ chuǎngrùzhě de kānjiāgǒu
keep on
▶ to keep on doing sth 继(繼)续(續)做某事 jìxù zuò mǒushì ⇒ They kept on walking for a while in silence. → 他们继续走了一会儿，谁都没说话。 Tāmen jìxù zǒule yīhuìr, shuí dōu méi shuōhuà.
keep off
使不接近 shǐ bù jiējìn ⇒ a bamboo shelter to keep the rain off → 挡雨的竹棚 dǎngyǔ de zhúpéng ⇒ Keep your dog off my lawn! → 别让你的狗接近我的草坪！ Bié ràng nǐ de gǒu jiējìn wǒ de cǎopíng!
keep in with
搞好关(關)系(係) gǎohǎo guānxì ⇒ Now he is getting old he wishes he had kept in with his family. → 他年纪大了，后悔当初没有多亲近家人。 Tā niánji dà le, hòuhuǐ dāngchū méiyǒu duō qīnjìn jiārén.
keep in
( invalid, child ) 不让(讓)外出 bù ràng wàichū
keep from
▶ to keep from doing sth 克制 kèzhì ⇒ She bit her lip to keep from crying. → 她咬着嘴唇克制着自己不要哭。 Tā yǎozhe zuǐchún kèzhìzhe zìjǐ bù yào kū.
keep back
( reserve : paint, ingredients ) 保留 bǎoliú ⇒ Keep back enough juice to make the sauce. → 留足够的汁做调味汁。 Liú zúgòu de zhī zuò tiáowèizhī.
keep away
▶ to keep sth/sb away (from sth) 使某物/某人不要来(來)(某处(處)) shǐ mǒuwù/mǒurén bù yào lái (mǒuchù) ⇒ Keep animals away from the kitchen. → 别让动物到厨房里。 Bié ràng dòngwù dào chúfáng li.