keep time

keep time

1. In music, to keep rhythm or maintain tempo. The guys in the band can play—just not together. They almost never keep time.
2. Literally, for a clock or watch to accurately track and indicate the time. My grandfather's old pocket watch is a bit tarnished, but it still keeps time perfectly!
3. To monitor the clock in a sporting event or other contest. It must be nerve-racking to keep time during a game that important. One mistake could affect the whole season!
See also: keep, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

keep time

 
1. Lit. to maintain a musical rhythm. Bob had to drop out of the band because he couldn't keep time. Since he can't keep time, he can't march, and he can't play the drums.
2. . Fig. to keep watch over the time in a game or an athletic contest. Ann kept time at all the basketball games. Whoever keeps time has to watch the referee very carefully.
3. . Fig. [for a clock or a watch] to keep track of time accurately. This watch doesn't keep time. My other watch kept time better.
See also: keep, time
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

keep time

1. Maintain the correct tempo and rhythm of music; also, mark the rhythm by foot-tapping, hand movements, or the like. For example, The children love to keep time by clapping their hands. This usage dates from the late 1500s and is occasionally put figuratively, as Ben Jonson did in Cynthia's Revels (1699): "Slow, slow, fresh fount, keep time with my salt tears."
2. Also, keep good time. Indicate the correct time, as in This inexpensive watch does not keep good time. [Late 1800s]
See also: keep, time
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

keep ˈtime


1 (of a clock or watch) always show the correct time: It’s an old watch, but it keeps very good time.
2 sing, play, or dance to music at the right speed: Keep time with the music, Fiona. You’re singing too fast.
See also: keep, time
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

keep time

1. To indicate the correct time.
2. Music To maintain the tempo or rhythm.
See also: keep, time
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • keep away
  • keep away (from someone or something)
  • keep faith with
  • keep faith with (someone or something)
  • keep by
  • keep (something) by
  • earn its keep
  • keep (something) under wraps
  • be asking for trouble
  • be looking for trouble
References in periodicals archive
Keep Time for Children was officially launched today by the Relationships Foundation to promote the importance of family time at weekends.
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To obtain accurate information about the cost of handling a case, the firm must require everyone on the staff to keep time records for each case in which they are involved (although members of the support staff are not assigned a billing rate).
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The system picks up the beat of each song and challenges you to keep time.
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In each of the Ducks' three nonconference games, the 25-second play clocks in all four corners of the stadium had issues that caused on-field officials to keep time themselves.
UO puzzles out clock problems
The waves keep time by moonspeed gathering in the silent rhyme.
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WE all do it - spend a fortune on lotions and potions that are supposed to keep time at bay.
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The other person would keep time, watch, and write a stream of consciousness.
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Running a law firm which services the sector requires an ability to keep time with developments in the technology and only a niche firm can move that quickly.
Internet niche market ensures Lecote's success
Previously, Connolly has berated late arrivals at his shows for their bad manners, claiming that, if he can keep time, so should they.
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This is to keep time with the unit's traditional, slowly-sung songs.
Factfile
The Earthwatch 4 software does much more than keep time. It can be used to show real-time or time-lapse movies depicting the changing sunlight across the globe.
byte size: COMPUTER BITS
As John Prescott said last year: 'If the railways don't keep time, I'll call time on the railways.'
Letter: Rail fiasco
WHEN THE LAMB LIES DOWN WITH THE ROCK "I finally learned how to keep time when we started the weekly broadcasts of our Mass for the Americas.
Catholic tastes
The discovery that laboratory-grown cells can keep time may make it much easier for scientists to tease apart the workings of the biological clock (SN: 7/11/98, p.
Frozen in time: cells' clocks tick on
Staff members, not just attorneys, should keep time records of all client contact.
More reasons to keep time and billing records