keep a close eye

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   To watch someone or something very carefully over a period of time.

   Grammar: Used with on: keep a close eye on the children. The verb keep can change tense: kept a close eye on it.

   Patterns

   • keep a close eye on someone
   • keep a close eye on something
   • keep a close eye that ...

   Could you keep a close eye on my bag while I buy the tickets?

   Doctors kept a close eye on her blood pressure after the operation.

   The teacher keeps a close eye on the new students during their first week.

2. 2phraseidiom

   To monitor a situation or process so that problems are noticed early.

   Grammar: Often used for ongoing situations; the object follows on: keep a close eye on spending.

   Patterns

   • keep a close eye on the situation
   • keep a close eye on progress
   • keep a close eye on costs

   The manager keeps a close eye on the team's spending.

   We should keep a close eye on the weather before we set off.

   Investors are keeping a close eye on interest rates this month.

Common combinations

keep a close eye on

Please keep a close eye on the soup while it simmers.

keep a close eye on the situation

Officials are keeping a close eye on the situation at the border.

keep a close eye on progress

The director keeps a close eye on progress each week.

keep a close eye on the children

She kept a close eye on the children at the pool.

keep a close eye on costs

Small businesses must keep a close eye on costs.

keep a close eye on things

While I was away, my neighbor kept a close eye on things.

Synonyms and how they differ

watch closely

A plainer verb phrase with the same meaning; use it when you want simpler wording than the fixed idiom.

monitor

More formal and often suggests regular checking with equipment or records, while keep a close eye is more personal and informal.

supervise

Focuses on being in charge of people or work, not just watching for problems.

keep tabs on

Informal and similar in meaning, but it often suggests checking up on someone's behavior rather than protecting or guarding.

Opposites

Word family

eye noun

The organ of sight; the literal word inside this idiom.

watchful adjective

Careful to notice what is happening; describes the person who keeps a close eye.

observer noun

A person who watches something carefully.

Commonly confused: keep a close eye or keep an eye on? keep a close eye or keep an eye out for?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “keep a close eye”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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