keep an eye on the oven

Meaning

To watch or monitor the oven periodically to make sure the food inside cooks properly and does not burn. It implies paying attention while doing other tasks around the house.

Examples

• Can you keep an eye on the oven while I run to the store?

  Can you keep an eye on the oven while I run to the store?

• I need to keep an eye on the oven because these cookies bake very fast.

  I need to keep an eye on the oven because these cookies bake very fast.

• She told me to keep an eye on the oven so the roast wouldn't dry out.

  She told me to keep an eye on the oven so the roast wouldn't dry out.

• Make sure to keep an eye on the oven during the last ten minutes of baking.

  Make sure to keep an eye on the oven during the last ten minutes of baking.

• I forgot to keep an eye on the oven, and the garlic bread got burnt.

  I forgot to keep an eye on the oven, and the garlic bread got burnt.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please keep your eyes on the oven while I am gone.

  ✓ Please keep an eye on the oven while I am gone.

  The idiom is singular: 'keep an eye on,' not 'keep your eyes on.'

• ✗ I must watch the oven with one eye.

  ✓ I must keep an eye on the oven.

  Translating the concept literally from other languages sounds unnatural. Use the established idiom 'keep an eye on'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'm going upstairs for a minute, so please ___.

  💡 Watch the baking food so it doesn't burn.

  Show answer

  keep an eye on the oven

• You need to ___ because the cake is almost done.

  💡 Monitor the baking process closely at the end.

  Show answer

  keep an eye on the oven