keep left

Meaning

This phrase is a common instruction or rule telling you to stay on the left side of a road, path, escalator, or hallway. It is frequently seen on road signs or heard in countries like the UK, Australia, and Japan where traffic flows on the left.

Examples

• When driving in the UK, remember to keep left at all times.

  When driving in the UK, remember to keep left at all times.

• The sign on the escalator says to keep left so people can pass on the right.

  The sign on the escalator says to keep left so people can pass on the right.

• You should keep left on this trail to avoid oncoming cyclists.

  You should keep left on this trail to avoid oncoming cyclists.

• As we walked through the busy train station, announcements told commuters to keep left.

  As we walked through the busy train station, announcements told commuters to keep left.

• If you're not overtaking other cars, you need to keep left on this highway.

  If you're not overtaking other cars, you need to keep left on this highway.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please stay leftly on the road.

  ✓ Please keep left on the road.

  'Left' functions as an adverb here; 'leftly' is not a valid English word.

• ✗ You must keep to the left side of hand.

  ✓ You must keep left.

  'Left side of hand' is a literal translation error from other languages. Simply say 'keep left' or 'keep to the left'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When you walk up the stairs in the subway, please ___ so others can pass.

  💡 Stay on the left side.

  Show answer

  keep left

• The driving instructor told me to ___ unless I was passing another vehicle.

  💡 Stay on the left side of the road.

  Show answer

  keep left