Keep down Meaning in English

expression

US

UK

Definition

To prevent something from rising, increasing, or escaping. It can also mean to not vomit after eating or drinking.

Usage & Nuances

Usually informal. Common patterns: 'keep down the noise', 'keep prices down', 'can't keep food down' (vomiting). Can refer to controlling emotions or situations, but mostly about physical things or prices. Not the same as 'keep up', which means to maintain or continue.

• Spanish: contener - impedir que suba - retener (comida)
• Portuguese (BR): conter - impedir de subir - segurar (comida)
• Portuguese (PT): conter - impedir que suba - segurar (comida)
• Chinese (Simplified): 抑制 - 压制 - 不让吐
• Chinese (Traditional): 抑制 - 壓制 - 不讓吐
• Hindi: नियंत्रित रखना - दबाए रखना - उल्टी न करना
• Arabic: يَحْدُ من - يمنع من الارتفاع - يمنع القيء
• Bengali: নিয়ন্ত্রণে রাখা - কম রাখা - বমি না করা
• Russian: сдерживать - удерживать - не вырвать
• Japanese: 抑える - 吐かずにいる
• Vietnamese: kìm lại - giữ nguyên - không nôn ra
• Korean: 억제하다 - 낮추다 - 토하지 않다
• Turkish: kontrol etmek - düşük tutmak - çıkarmamak (kusmamak)
• Urdu: کم رکھنا - قابو میں رکھنا - قے نہ کرنا
• Indonesian: menahan - menjaga tetap rendah - tidak muntah

Example Sentences

Please keep down your voice in the library.

basic

We need to keep down costs this year.

basic

Try to keep down the noise—the baby is sleeping.

natural

He’s been sick and can barely keep down a sip of water.

natural

The teacher asked us to keep down while she made an announcement.

natural

After surgery, he could not keep down any food.

basic