keep

for keeps permanently, indefinitely. informal

☞ 2005 Taipei Times When he quits for keeps, Sanders probably will be asked to return to the TV studio.

keep yourself to yourself avoid contact or communication with others; be retiring and solitary.

play for keeps engage in an activity with ruthless determination and single-mindedness.

2003Inc. Magazine The infamously tough buyers at Wal-Mart, he says, play for keeps. If you're a small vendor, and you fail them once, they'll never forget. You're on their shitlist for life.

you can't keep a good man (or woman) down a competent person will always recover well from setbacks or problems. informal

☞ For other idioms containing keep, see the entry for the main word in the idiom (for example, keep up with the Joneses at Joneses).