keep guard

keep guard

To watch over someone or something; to act as a guard or a lookout for someone or something. He kept guard outside the bathroom to make sure no one walked in on Jeremy getting sick. The police are keeping guard around the prison, lest the prisoner should attempt escape a second time.
See also: guard, keep
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

mount/stand/keep ˈguard (over somebody/something)

act as a guard: Two soldiers stood guard over the captured weapons.
See also: guard, keep, mount, stand
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • mount
  • mount/stand/keep guard
  • stand guard
  • mount guard
  • guard (someone or something) from (someone or something)
  • guard from
  • take (one) by surprise
  • take by surprise
  • take somebody by surprise
  • bellow out
References in periodicals archive
I was told that there was no bathroom for women at the camp and whenever they took a bath inside the camp, children would keep guard and stop men from entering there," the Daily Times quoted, Akmal, as saying.
LRA soldiers keep guard at the assembly point in Ri-Kwangba on the Sudan-Congo border, Western Equatoria, April 10, 2008.
Two friars of equally determined spirit, joined by two young men, began to keep guard over the cemetery where the miserable priest lay buried.
BANK RAID: Barclays at the university campus where raiders struck and (left and right) police keep guard and search for clues at the scene of the crime
``When I first started they were held in a wooden hut by the cattle ring with a watchman to keep guard of them overnight.
Police will keep guard around the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo's Minato Ward, restrict traffic and check vehicles on metropolitan expressways while the Chinese leader stays in Tokyo until Saturday, the department said.
MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN Saudi security forces keep guard in Manfouha, southern Riyadh, in this file photo.
It was indicated that the gang assigned some drug addicts around the shelter to keep guard.
"We have asked the state chief secretary to engage the village watchmen on duty to keep guard the school hand pumps," Kumar told the media on Monday evening reacting to reports of continual poisoning of water facilities in schools, leaving scores of children sick every day.
"The meerkats work in shifts to keep guard. They tend to use the highest vantage point.
The kennel includes a Sheepskin-lined, raised beds will allow the dogs to keep guard out of the windows, while in the lounge they can listen to a 15,000 pound sound system or enjoy shows on a 52in plasma screen TV.
Sheepskin-lined, raised beds will allow the dogs to keep guard out of the windows, while in the lounge they can listen to a pounds 15,000 sound system or enjoy shows on a 52in plasma screen TV.