THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Keep an eye on
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To watch, check or look after someone or something; the level of attention depends on the situation.
Usage note: keep in mind
Use keep an eye on + a person or thing. Past: kept an eye on. In progress: keeping an eye on. Keep an eye out for means look for or be ready to notice someone or something.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Could you keep an eye on the soup while I answer the door?
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
Could you ________ the soup while I answer the door?
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Keep an eye on — To watch, check or look after someone or something; the level of attention depends on the situation.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Keep an eye on” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
To watch, check or look after someone or something; the level of attention depends on the situation.
Compare: Could you keep an eye on the soup while I answer the door?
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More ways to understand and use it
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What does “keep an eye on” mean?
Keep an eye on someone or something means watch, check or look after them. The amount of attention depends on the situation: you might watch a child closely, check a cooking pot regularly, or monitor a changing timetable.
The idiom does not literally mean using only one eye. It also does not always mean staring continuously. The context tells you how closely and how often to watch.
How to use keep an eye on
Use keep + an eye + on + a person or thing. Keep an and on in this pattern:
- Can you keep an eye on my bag while I collect the tickets?
- Please keep an eye on the soup so it does not boil over.
- We need to keep an eye on the timetable in case it changes.
- I will keep an eye on it while you are away.
- Could you keep an eye on things until I return?
Keep an eye on it refers to something already mentioned. Keep an eye on things means watch the general situation or look after what needs attention, rather than one named object.
Keeping, keeps and kept an eye on
Change keep to fit the tense and subject, while the rest of the idiom stays the same:
- Present: “She keeps an eye on the stock levels.”
- Past: “We kept an eye on the weather.”
- In progress: “I am keeping an eye on the arrivals board.”
- Future: “They will keep an eye on the equipment.”
A short everyday conversation
A: I need to answer the door. Could you keep an eye on the soup?
B: Of course. I’ll check that it doesn’t boil over.
A: Thanks. I’ll be back in a minute.
The request is friendly and practical. Adding could you or please makes the request polite; the idiom itself does not require a formal situation.
Keep an eye on vs keep an eye out for
Keep an eye on means monitor something: “Keep an eye on our luggage.” Keep an eye out for means look out for or be ready to notice something: “Keep an eye out for the taxi.” In the second sentence, the taxi may not have arrived yet.
Practise the idiom
Practice 1
Fill the gap: “Could you keep an eye ___ my bag?”
Show answer 1 and explanation
On. The usual pattern is keep an eye on someone or something.
Practice 2
Change this sentence to the past: “I keep an eye on the oven.”
Show answer 2 and explanation
I kept an eye on the oven. The past tense of keep is kept; an eye on stays unchanged.
Practice 3
You are waiting for a friend to arrive. Choose the clearer phrase: “keep an eye on her” or “keep an eye out for her.”
Show answer 3 and explanation
Keep an eye out for her. You are looking for her arrival. Keep an eye on her would mean watching or monitoring her.
Keep learning
Write a polite request using this idiom, then try daily English practice or choose another lesson in the learning app. For another way to describe caution, explore wary and wary of.
Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: keep an eye on. The examples, dialogue and questions here are written for English Skill Studio.