phrasal verb · neutral
keep off
UK/kiːp ɒf/US/kip ɔːf/KEEP·off
speakingtask2
to stay away from a surface or place; to prevent something from touching or affecting
Examples
“Please keep off the grass.”
“They used a repellent to keep ticks off the dogs.”
“Keep off that subject — it upsets her.”
Band 8 sentence
“Exhibition organisers put ropes round the paintings to keep visitors off them.”
Collocations
- keep off the grass
- keep off someone/something
Word family
keep off phrasal verb (base)keeps off verb (3rd sg)keeping off gerund/present participlekept off past / past participle
Common mistakes
Keep the grass off.→Keep off the grass.
Keep off from the cake.→Keep off the cake.
Say it for a higher band
5avoid→6stay away from→7+keep off
Synonyms
stay off
avoid
Easily confused
keep out
“The gate was locked to keep out unauthorised vehicles.”
Related words
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In keep …
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