keep a close watch

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

keep a close watch (third-person singular simple present keeps a close watch, present participle keeping a close watch, simple past and past participle kept a close watch)

1. (idiomatic) to pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems.

   The prime minister asked the home secretary to keep a close watch on the flooding situation.

See also

• keep an eye on