keep an eye on things

Meaning

This phrase means to watch, monitor, or look after a situation, place, or object to ensure everything goes smoothly and no problems arise. It is widely used in daily life when asking someone to temporarily watch over your house, children, or a project.

Examples

• Could you keep an eye on things here while I step out to grab some lunch?

  Could you keep an eye on things here while I step out to grab some lunch?

• Our neighbor agreed to keep an eye on things while we go away for the weekend.

  Our neighbor agreed to keep an eye on things while we go away for the weekend.

• I need to stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on things so the soup doesn't boil over.

  I need to stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on things so the soup doesn't boil over.

• Don't worry about the kids; my sister is going to keep an eye on things this afternoon.

  Don't worry about the kids; my sister is going to keep an eye on things this afternoon.

• The manager asked me to keep an eye on things at the store while she was in a meeting.

  The manager asked me to keep an eye on things at the store while she was in a meeting.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Can you keep your eyes on things while I'm gone?

  ✓ Can you keep an eye on things while I'm gone?

  The idiom uses the singular 'an eye', not the plural 'eyes'.

• ✗ I will keep an eye for things around the office.

  ✓ I will keep an eye on things around the office.

  Use the preposition 'on', not 'for', when monitoring a situation.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Could you ___ while I run to the restroom?

  💡 Watch over the situation.

  Show answer

  keep an eye on things

• My colleague promised to ___ at the office while I am on vacation.

  💡 Monitor the workplace.

  Show answer

  keep an eye on things