What Does “Keep sth out” Mean?
“Keep sth out” means to prevent something from entering or getting inside a place or situation.
Introduction
The phrase “keep sth out” is a common phrasal verb in English. It is often used when talking about stopping something unwanted from entering a space or an environment. For example, you might want to keep rain out of your house or keep noise out of your room. Understanding the “keep sth out” meaning helps you communicate clearly about protecting spaces or situations from something undesirable. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations as well as in writing. It can refer to physical things like animals or weather, or abstract things like emotions or information.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: keep sth out → keep something out
- Type: transitive
- Level: A2–B2
- Short meaning: Prevent something from entering
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Keep sth out” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (something) between “keep” and “out,” or after the entire phrase.
- Keep something out
- Keep out something
For example:
- Keep the rain out.
- Keep out the rain.
How to Use “Keep sth out”?
Use “keep sth out” when you want to talk about stopping something from entering a place or situation. It often refers to physical barriers or efforts to prevent entry. You can also use it in a figurative way, like keeping worries or problems out of your mind.
Examples
Imagine you want to stop cold wind from entering your house. You might say:
- We need to keep the cold air out during winter.
- She put a door sweep under the door to keep dust out.
- Keep the dog out of the kitchen while we cook.
- They installed a fence to keep strangers out of the yard.
- He tries to keep negative thoughts out of his mind.
These examples show “keep sth out” in different contexts, both physical and figurative.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes, learners confuse the position of the object or use the wrong verb form. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: Keep out the rain the window.
- Correct: Keep the rain out of the window.
- Incorrect: Keep out dogs from the garden.
- Correct: Keep dogs out of the garden.
Remember to place the object clearly and use prepositions like “of” or “from” when needed.
Differences / Synonyms
Other phrasal verbs that are similar include “keep away,” “shut out,” and “block out.” However, they have slight differences:
- Keep away: Focuses on staying at a distance, not necessarily preventing entry.
- Shut out: Often used for excluding something completely, especially feelings or people.
- Block out: Usually means to stop something from being seen or heard.
“Keep sth out” is mainly about preventing something from entering a physical or mental space.
Common Collocations
We often use “keep sth out” with these objects:
- Rain: Prevent water from entering a place.
- Noise: Stop unwanted sound from coming in.
- Cold air: Avoid chilly air entering indoors.
- Animals: Prevent animals like dogs, cats, or insects from entering.
- Strangers: Keep unknown people away.
- Dust: Stop dirt or dust from getting inside.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of keep sth out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “keep sth out”:
Anna: The wind is really strong today. How do we keep it out?
Ben: I’ll close the windows and put some towels at the door to keep the cold air out.
Anna: Good idea! Also, let’s keep the dog out of the living room while we clean.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “keep sth out”:
- We need to ______ the noise ______ during the meeting.
- She put a screen to ______ the mosquitoes ______.
- Can you help me ______ the kids ______ of the kitchen?
- It’s important to ______ negative thoughts ______ when you’re working.
FAQs
- What does “keep sth out” mean? It means to prevent something from entering a place or situation.
- Is “keep sth out” separable or inseparable? It is separable, so you can put the object between “keep” and “out.”
- Can “keep sth out” be used figuratively? Yes, it can refer to stopping feelings or thoughts from entering your mind.
- What are common objects used with “keep sth out”? Rain, noise, cold air, animals, strangers, and dust are common examples.
- How is “keep sth out” different from “keep away”? “Keep away” means staying at a distance, while “keep out” means preventing entry.
