What Does “keep sth up” Mean?
The phrasal verb “keep sth up” means to continue doing something at the same level or pace without stopping. It often refers to maintaining effort, behavior, or progress.
Introduction
The phrase “keep sth up” is commonly used in English to encourage someone to continue their good work or to describe maintaining an action or state. Understanding the keep sth up meaning helps learners use it naturally in conversations and writing. Whether you want to motivate a friend, describe ongoing progress, or talk about habits, this phrase fits many everyday situations. It is a useful expression that shows persistence and consistency. In this article, you will learn how to use “keep sth up” correctly, see examples in real contexts, and avoid common mistakes.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: keep something up
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: continue doing something at the same level
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Keep sth up” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (something) between “keep” and “up” or after “up.”
- keep + something + up (e.g., Keep the good work up!)
- keep up + something (e.g., Keep up the good work!)
Both forms are correct, but “keep up something” is more common in formal writing.
How to Use “keep sth up”?
Use “keep sth up” when you want to say that someone should continue doing something positive or effective. It can also describe maintaining a certain level of performance, quality, or behavior.
It is often used to encourage or praise someone:
- “You’re doing great – keep it up!”
- “If you keep your studies up, you’ll pass the exam.”
You can also use it to talk about habits or ongoing situations:
- “She keeps her exercise routine up even when she’s busy.”
Examples
Here are some natural examples that show how to keep sth up in a sentence:
- “You’ve been working hard this week. Keep it up!”
- “If you keep your efforts up, you will improve your English quickly.”
- “The team kept their energy up throughout the whole match.”
- “It’s important to keep your confidence up during interviews.”
- “She keeps her spirits up even during difficult times.”
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners make mistakes with word order or verb forms when using “keep sth up.”
- Incorrect: Keep up your work good.
- Correct: Keep up your good work.
- Incorrect: Keep your good work up.
- Correct: Keep your good work up.
Remember that the object should be a noun or noun phrase, not an adjective alone.
Differences / Synonyms
“Keep sth up” is similar to phrases like “carry on,” “continue,” or “maintain.” However, “keep sth up” specifically focuses on sustaining an action or level.
- Carry on: More general; means to continue an activity.
- Maintain: More formal; means to keep something at a certain level.
- Keep sth up: Emphasizes ongoing effort or performance.
For example, “keep your spirits up” means to continue feeling positive, while “carry on your work” simply means to continue working.
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects used with “keep sth up” and their meanings:
- Keep the good work up: Continue working well.
- Keep the pressure up: Continue applying pressure or effort.
- Keep the pace up: Maintain speed or rate.
- Keep the energy up: Stay energetic.
- Keep the spirits up: Stay positive or optimistic.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of keep sth up:
Real-life Dialogue
Using “keep sth up” in conversation sounds natural and encouraging. Here is a short example:
Anna: I’ve been practicing piano every day this week.
Mark: That’s great! Keep it up, and you’ll improve quickly.
Anna: Thanks! I’ll try my best.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “keep sth up”:
- She needs to _________ her good work if she wants a promotion.
- Don’t lose hope; _________ your spirits ________!
- The coach told the players to _________ the pressure ________ during the game.
- We should _________ the pace ________ to finish on time.
FAQs
- What does “keep sth up” mean? It means to continue doing something at the same level or pace.
- Is “keep sth up” formal or informal? It is mostly informal but can be used in formal contexts.
- Can I use “keep up” without an object? Yes, but it has a slightly different meaning (e.g., “Keep up!” means “continue” or “don’t fall behind”).
- Is “keep sth up” separable? Yes, you can put the object between “keep” and “up” or after “up.”
- Can I use “keep sth up” for bad habits? It’s usually used for positive or neutral actions, not bad habits.
