Is the expression an idiom? Is it formal or informal?
The expression ‘to keep an eye on’ is an idiom and is used a lot in everyday spoken English. If you keep an eye on somebody or something, it means that you watch the person, animal or thing closely. A person pays extra attention and is more attentive when she/he is keeping an eye on someone or something.
Imagine that you’re in a restaurant with a friend and she asks you to keep an eye on her handbag while she goes to the restroom. In this situation, the friend is asking you to mind or watch her bag while she is in the restroom in case a stranger takes her bag.
Here are some other examples of the idiom being used:
- The childminder was asked to keep an eye on the youngest child as he had been sick during the weekend. During the whole day, the childminder paid close attention to him, she made sure he was eating normally, checked his temperature regularly and kept him hydrated.
- The tenants were asked by the landlady to keep an eye on the leak in the ceiling as they were expecting heavy rainfall throughout the week. The tenants checked the leak every couple of hours to make sure it wasn’t getting any worse.
- Before the tourists went scuba-diving, their instructor told them to keep on eye on their oxygen tanks during the dive. If they noticed anything unusual they were to signal the instructor immediately.
- The family was told to keep an eye on their pet dog as she was pregnant. The family, kept her warm and comfortable until the puppies were delivered safely.
24 Simple Phrasal Verbs with Look
to look after; watch carefully
For Example: The captain let his men pass, and took up the rear to keep an eye on things.
Source : Collins Dictionary
On second though, it is an idiom; let me share some examples;
It means that “follow with the eyes or the mind” ; “Keep an eye on the baby, please!”;
It also means that “watch and pay attention” ; “You can’t keep an eye on your children 24 hours a day.”
to watch someone or something or stay informed about the person’s behavior, esp. to keep someone out of trouble: Keep an eye on your brother while I’m out, please. (Definition of “keep an eye on someone/something” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Imagine that you’re in a restaurant with a friend and she asks you to keep an eye on her handbag while she goes to the restroom. In this situation, the friend is asking you to mind or watch her bag while she is in the restroom in case a stranger takes her bag.
Here are some other examples of the idiom being used:
- The childminder was asked to keep an eye on the youngest child as he had been sick during the weekend. During the whole day, the childminder paid close attention to him, she made sure he was eating normally, checked his temperature regularly and kept him hydrated.
- The tenants were asked by the landlady to keep an eye on the leak in the ceiling as they were expecting heavy rainfall throughout the week. The tenants checked the leak every couple of hours to make sure it wasn’t getting any worse.
- Before the tourists went scuba-diving, their instructor told them to keep on eye on their oxygen tanks during the dive. If they noticed anything unusual they were to signal the instructor immediately.
- The family was told to keep an eye on their pet dog as she was pregnant. The family, kept her warm and comfortable until the puppies were delivered safely.
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