Keep sb off sth Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Keep sb off sth” Mean?

“Keep sb off sth” means to prevent someone from doing something or from being involved with something. It often refers to stopping someone from touching, using, or engaging with a particular thing or activity.

Introduction

The phrase “keep sb off sth” is a common phrasal verb in English. It combines “keep,” meaning to maintain or prevent, with “off,” which means away from something. The “sb” stands for somebody, and “sth” stands for something. So, the phrase means to stop or prevent someone from accessing, using, or doing something. Understanding the “keep sb off sth” meaning is useful in many daily situations, such as when parents want to keep children off dangerous objects or when someone wants to avoid distractions. This phrase is widely used in both formal and informal English, making it an important expression for learners to know and use correctly.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: keep somebody off something
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: To prevent someone from being on or involved with something

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Keep sb off sth” is a separable phrasal verb, but it is usually not separated in everyday use. The basic structure is:

• Keep + somebody (sb) + off + something (sth)
• Example: Keep children off the grass.

You cannot place the object between “keep” and “off.” For example, keep off the grass is correct, but keep the grass off is incorrect.

How to Use “Keep sb off sth”?

This phrase is used when you want to talk about stopping someone from going near or using something. It can be physical, like keeping a child off a dangerous machine, or more abstract, like keeping someone off a topic or problem. It’s often used with people (somebody) and things or places (something).

Examples

Here are some natural examples to help you understand how to use “keep sb off sth in a sentence”:

• The sign says, “Please keep children off the construction site.”
• We need to keep him off the medication until the doctor gives approval.
• Parents try to keep their kids off sugary snacks to promote healthy eating.
• The doctor advised me to keep off heavy exercise after the surgery.
• Security guards kept the crowd off the stage during the concert.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse the order or misuse the phrase. Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: Keep off children the toys.
  Correct: Keep children off the toys.
• Incorrect: Keep the toys off children.
  Correct: Keep children off the toys.
• Incorrect: Keep off the children from the table.
  Correct: Keep the children off the table.

Remember: The person (sb) always comes right after “keep,” followed by “off,” then the thing (sth).

Differences / Synonyms

Other phrasal verbs can sometimes seem similar but have different meanings:

• Keep sb away from sth: This means to stop someone from going near something, similar to “keep sb off sth,” but it focuses more on distance.
• Keep sb out of sth: This means to prevent someone from entering a place or situation, which can be broader than just being “off” something.
• Keep sb from sth: This means to stop someone from doing something, focusing more on action rather than location.

“Keep sb off sth” is more specific to preventing physical contact or involvement with an object or place.

Common Collocations

Here are some common objects and places used with “keep sb off sth,” along with their meanings:

• Keep children off the grass: Stop children from walking or playing on the grass.
• Keep pets off the furniture: Prevent animals from climbing on sofas or chairs.
• Keep workers off dangerous equipment: Stop workers from using unsafe machinery.
• Keep patients off certain foods: Prevent patients from eating specific items for health reasons.
• Keep students off the exam papers: Stop students from accessing test materials before the exam.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of keep sb off sth:

• Keep Sth Out
• Keep To Sth
• Keep Sth On Sb
• Keep Sth To Yourself
• Keep Sth To Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “keep sb off sth”:

Mom: Please keep the kids off the wet paint. It will ruin their clothes.

Dad: Don’t worry, I told them to stay away.

Mom: Good. We don’t want to clean up a mess.

Practice

Try to fill in the blanks with the correct form of “keep sb off sth”:

• The teacher asked us to __________ the science lab until the experiment was finished.
• Can you __________ the dog __________ the sofa? It’s new and expensive.
• They put a fence to __________ people __________ the construction area.

FAQs

• Q: Can “keep sb off sth” be used for non-physical things?
  A: Yes, it can mean preventing someone from doing something, not just physical contact.
• Q: Is “keep sb off sth” formal or informal?
  A: It is used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Q: Can I say “keep off sb”?
  A: No, the correct order is “keep sb off sth.”
• Q: What is the difference between “keep sb off sth” and “keep sb away from sth”?
  A: “Keep sb off sth” focuses on preventing contact or use, while “keep sb away from sth” focuses on distance.
• Q: Is “sb” always a person?
  A: Yes, “sb” stands for somebody (a person).