keep company

keep company

1. To spend time with one for the sake of companionship, or in order to keep them from being lonely. In this usage, a noun or pronoun appears between "keep" and "company." Can you keep me company for a while? I've felt so cooped up without anyone to talk to. At the very least, Trish will have her dog to keep her company on the trip.
2. To associate (with). The people you keep company with reflect greatly on your character.
3. dated To court someone. Lord Nelson has been keeping company with a commoner, and the village is astir.
See also: company, keep
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

keep someone company

to sit or stay with someone, especially someone who is lonely. I kept my uncle company for a few hours. He was very grateful for someone to keep him company. He gets very lonely.
See also: company, keep

keep company

 (with someone)
1. Lit. to spend much time with someone; to associate with or consort with someone. Bill has been keeping company with Ann for three months. Bob has been keeping company with a tough-looking bunch of boys.
2. Fig. to be courting someone. Mary and Bill are keeping company. I heard that Joe is keeping company with Jim Brown's daughter.
See also: company, keep
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

keep company

1. Also, keep company with. Associate with; also, carry on a courtship. For example, He keeps company with a wild bunch, or Jack and Françoise kept company for two years before they married. [Mid-1500s]
2. keep someone company. Accompany or remain with someone, as in Mary kept Mother company while she shopped, or Do you want me to stay and keep you company? This term was originally put as bear someone company. [c. 1300]
See also: company, keep
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

keep somebody ˈcompany

spend time with somebody so that they are not alone: I’ve promised to keep my sister company while her husband is away.
See also: company, keep, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

keep (someone) company

To accompany or remain with.
See also: company, keep

keep company

1. To carry on a courtship: a couple who kept company but never married.
2. To socialize or associate: keeps company with some tough thugs.
See also: company, keep
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • keep in
  • keep in some place
  • bear/keep somebody/something in mind
  • keep behind
  • keep by
  • keep (something) by
  • keep (something) under wraps
  • earn its keep
  • keep (going) on at (one)
  • keep away
References in periodicals archive
The trader, from Derryvale Road, also failed to keep company funds and other money separate between December 2001 and February 2003 or file returns with the register of companies.
Cheque bouncer barred
They would do worse than keep company with Jonathan Raban's Passage to Juneau.
Portrait of a troubled man
Llangefni Town are celebrating as the new champions, having secured promotion to the Welsh Premier next season where they will keep company with The New Saints, Rhyl and Bangor City.
'We did it' says Bryan
"I've proved I'm consistent and I can keep company with some of the big riders," he said.
Cycling: Downing stays green as Tour hits Brum
Pirc's managing director, Alan MacDougall, said that the absence of an independent authority to keep company law under review and arbitrate on legal matters was a "fatal flaw" in the bill, and that the group would lobby the government to reintroduce the idea.
Omission of commission to review business legislation is "fatal flaw"
Catherine McAuley, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Kateri Tekakwitha, Frances Cabrini, and Katharine Drexel keep company with Josephine Bakhita, Thea Bowman, Dorothy Day, and Mother Teresa.
Portraits of mercy
If you work to replace the fluff with the topics that keep company leaders awake at night, you will--slowly--change their perception.
Paying Peter without robbing Paul: is it possible to do an employee communication vehicle that can make both executives and rank-and-file employees happy? Absolutely
He does this by showing how humans relate to animals, as in "Swans," where a woman lights fires around a lake to warm and keep company with swans at night, or in "Two Deer," where he shows how understanding deer leads to understanding each other.
Bass, Rick. The hermit's story, stories