keep off

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to avoid stepping on or touching a particular surface, such as a lawn or a wet floor. It can also figuratively mean to avoid discussing a specific topic that might cause arguments or discomfort.

Examples

• The park ranger told the tourists to keep off the grass.

  The park ranger told the tourists to keep off the grass.

• Please keep off the wet floor until it is completely dry.

  Please keep off the wet floor until it is completely dry.

• During dinner, we tried to keep off the topic of politics.

  During dinner, we tried to keep off the topic of politics.

• He advised me to keep off fried foods while my stomach recovers.

  He advised me to keep off fried foods while my stomach recovers.

• The sign on the ancient ruins says 'Keep off the stones'.

  The sign on the ancient ruins says 'Keep off the stones'.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please keep out the grass.

  ✓ Please keep off the grass.

  'Keep out' means do not enter a closed space (like a room), whereas 'keep off' means do not step on a surface (like grass or a stage).

• ✗ We should keep off from talking about money.

  ✓ We should keep off the topic of money.

  Do not use 'from' directly after 'keep off' when referring to a topic; use 'keep off [topic]' or 'keep off the subject of [topic]'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The sign on the newly seeded lawn says '___ the grass'.

  💡 do not step on

  Show answer

  keep off

• If you want a peaceful evening, it is best to ___ the subject of work.

  💡 avoid discussing

  Show answer

  keep off