Definition & Meaning of "keep to"

to keep to

[phrase form: keep]

VERB

to stay on a specific path, road, or route

Transitive: to keep to a path

to follow through with what one has promised, planned, or committed to do

Transitive: to keep to a plan

Old use

to focus on and discuss only the specific subject that one is supposed to address

Transitive: to keep to a subject

to remain in a particular place or position

Transitive: to keep to a place or position

keep to oneself

[keep] {oneself} to {oneself}

to keep to oneself

PHRASE

to choose not to communicate or interact with other people

to [keep] to {oneself} definition and meaning

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "keep to oneself" and when to use it?

The idiom "keep to oneself" has its origins in the notion of personal boundaries and privacy. It suggests the act of maintaining a reserved or introverted disposition and not sharing one's thoughts, feelings, or activities with others. This expression is used to highlight the preference for solitude or limited social interaction, reflecting a desire to maintain personal space or emotional distance.

keep something to oneself

to keep something to oneself

PHRASE

to decide not to share a piece of information, an idea, or a feeling with others