keep down

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to control the size, level, or amount of something, keeping it at a low level. It is most commonly used when talking about noise (such as keeping your voice down) or managing expenses and prices. It can also informally mean to avoid vomiting when sick.

Examples

• Can you please keep the noise down? The baby is sleeping.

  Can you please keep the noise down? The baby is sleeping.

• We need to find ways to keep our weekly grocery bill down.

  We need to find ways to keep our weekly grocery bill down.

• She drank some warm tea to help keep her food down while she was sick.

  She drank some warm tea to help keep her food down while she was sick.

• The government is trying hard to keep inflation down this quarter.

  The government is trying hard to keep inflation down this quarter.

• Keep your voice down; we aren't supposed to be talking in the library.

  Keep your voice down; we aren't supposed to be talking in the library.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please keep down your voice.

  ✓ Please keep your voice down.

  When using 'keep down' with nouns like 'voice' or 'noise', the noun usually goes between 'keep' and 'down' for a more natural conversational flow.

• ✗ We must keep down the prices.

  ✓ We must keep prices down.

  While grammatically acceptable, native speakers almost always split the phrasal verb when referring to specific metrics like prices, costs, or bills.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Could you please ___ your voice? I am trying to study.

  💡 Make less noise

  Show answer

  keep down

• We are trying to ___ our electricity costs this winter.

  💡 Control or limit the amount

  Show answer

  keep down