phrasal verb · informal
keep house
/kiːp haʊs/KEEP·HOUSE
speakingtask1
to take care of household chores and manage a home
Examples
“While her husband was abroad, she kept house and looked after the children.”
“After the injury, he had to stay home and keep house for a few months.”
“Many students learn to keep house when they live away from home.”
Band 8 sentence
“During his gap year he kept house for his elderly grandparents, which taught him valuable life skills.”
Collocations
- keep house for someone
- keep house alone
Word family
keep house verbkeeps house verbkept house verbkeeping house verb
Common mistakes
keep the house→keep house
She keeps a house (when meaning do chores)→She keeps house
Say it for a higher band
5do housework→6run the household→7+keep house
Synonyms
run the household
do the housework
Easily confused
do the housework
“She does the housework every Saturday.”
Related words
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In keep …
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