Keep Out – Meaning and Examples
Imagine a private room or a secret meeting. What word do you use to tell someone they are not allowed to enter or participate? In English, the simple command is Keep out! This phrasal verb means to prevent entry or exclusion. This phrase is essential for establishing boundaries and rules in any setting. Let’s learn how to use keep out correctly!
What Does “Keep Out” Mean?
“Keep out” means to prevent someone or something from entering a place, usually by blocking the way, or to exclude someone from a conversation, group, or activity. Think of a locked door or a fence with a sign . The purpose is to keep out anything that is not supposed to be there. In the figurative sense, it means to maintain secrecy or privacy. The phrase is used both literally (physical entry) and figuratively (emotional or social exclusion).
When to Use It
Use this phrase in neutral or casual conversations when setting limits or discussing exclusion:
- Warnings: Telling people not to enter a dangerous or private area.
- Privacy: Telling people to stay out of a personal space or private matter.
- Exclusion: Describing how one person or group is preventing another from participating.
This phrase is generally neutral, but the single-word command “Keep out!” is often very direct.
Example Sentences
- Please keep out of the kitchen while the chef is preparing the food.
- I built a high fence to keep out the deer from my garden.
- We tried to discuss the new policy, but the manager tried to **keep** us **out** of the conversation.
- There was a sign on the door that said, “Danger! Keep out!”
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “I need to concentrate on this essay, but the noise is distracting.” Jamie: “I understand. I’ll put a sign on your door to **keep** people **out** for the next hour.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Remember that the object being kept out can be placed between the verb and the preposition (e.g., “keep us out”) or after the entire phrase (e.g., “keep out the rain”), but the first is generally more common with pronouns. ❌ Don’t say: “The gate kept from the dogs.” (The verb “out” is missing.) ✅ Do say: “The gate kept out the dogs.” (Correct use of the full phrasal verb.) ✅ Do say: “We put a wall up to keep out the wind.” (Correct use to prevent entry.)
Practice Tip
When you want to focus on learning, tell yourself: “I need to keep out all distractions, especially social media, for the next 30 minutes.”Final Note
Excellent work! You now know how to use keep out to set clear boundaries, whether you are talking about a physical space or a conversation. Remember to keep out fear of making mistakes, and keep practicing your English!
