keep up

keep up(

)

An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g. Everybody please stand up.).

intransitive verb phrase

1. (to continue)

a. seguir (weather or noise)

If that racket keeps up, I'll never get to sleep.Si sigue esa bulla, no conseguiré dormirme.

b. continuar (weather or noise)

If the snow keeps up, they'll probably cancel school.Si continua la nieve, es probable que cancelen las clases.

2. (to maintain speed)

a. seguir el ritmo

Don't walk so fast! I can't keep up!¡No camines tan rápido! ¡No puedo seguir el ritmo!

b. no quedarse atrás

The runner in second place looks tired, but he's keeping up.El corredor en segundo lugar parece cansado, pero no se queda atrás.

3. (to keep pace)

a. seguir el ritmo

I have so much to study at school. I don't know how I'm going to keep up.Tengo tanto que estudiar en la escuela. No sé como voy a seguir el ritmo.

b. mantenerse al nivel

Ruby is struggling to keep up in class.A Ruby le está costando mantenerse al nivel del resto de la clase.

4. (to be up to date)

a. estar al corriente

As a journalist, I have to keep up on current events.Como periodista, siempre tengo que estar al corriente de los acontecimientos actuales.

b. mantenerse al tanto

I haven't been keeping up with the news these days.No me he mantenido al tanto de las últimas noticias estos días.

c. mantenerse al día

How do you keep up with the latest trends?¿Qué haces para mantenerte al día de las últimas tendencias?

A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g. Take out the trash.).

transitive verb phrase

5. (to sustain)

a. mantener

If we keep up the pressure, maybe they will agree to the contract.Si mantenemos la presión, quizás acepten el contrato.

6. (to take care of)

a. cuidar

I've been keeping up my parents' house while they've been traveling around the world.Estoy cuidando la casa de mis padres mientras viajan alrededor del mundo.

b. ocuparse del mantenimiento de

We're keeping up a friend's apartment while he's based in Europe.Estamos ocupándonos del apartamento de un amigo mientras está viviendo en Europa.

7. (to prevent from sleeping)

a. tener en vela

The noise next door kept me up all night.El ruido de la casa de al lado me tuvo en vela toda la noche.

8. (to prevent from falling)

a. sujetar

I need a belt to keep my pants up.Necesito un cinturón para sujetarme los pantalones.

keep up

A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g. Take out the trash.).

transitive verb phrase

1. (custom)

a. mantener

to k up the paymentsllevar al día los pagos

k it up!¡sigue así!

k up the good work!¡sigue así!

to k up appearancesguardar las apariencias

2. (keep awake)

a. tener en vela

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).

intransitive verb

3. (rain, snow)

a. continuar

4. (remain level, go at same speed)

a. no quedarse atrás

to k up with somebodyseguir el ritmo de alguien

to k up with the Jonesesno ser menos que el vecino

to k up with eventsmantenerse informado(a)

to k up with the timesadaptarse a los tiempos

keep up

transitive verb

1 (hold up) [+shelf] sostener; sujetar; [+stocking, trousers] sujetar

eg you can either use a belt or braces to keep your trousers up

to keep one's spirits or morale up mantener la moral alta

we must keep our morale up

2 (continue) [+tradition] mantener; [+correspondence, subscription, standards, pressure] mantener; [+payments] no retrasarse en

keep up the good work! ¡bien hecho!; ¡sigue así!; ¡síguele dando!; (LAm) keep it up! ¡sigue así!; ¡ánimo!

the house was repossessed as they hadn't kept up the mortgage payments

he'll never keep it up! ¡no va a poder seguir así!; ¡no aguanta!; (LAm) it's difficult to keep up a relationship when you're far apart es difícil mantener una relación cuando se está alejado uno del otro

3 (maintain) [+property] cuidar; mantener (en buenas condiciones); [+payments] no retrasarse en

you must try to keep up your German deberías intentar seguir con el alemán

4 (keep out of bed) tener despierto hasta muy tarde; tener en vela; tener desvelado; (LAm)

I don't want to keep you up no quiero entretenerte más

verb:intransitive:plus_adverb

1 (continue) [+weather] seguir; mantenerse

the storms kept up for a week

2 (maintain level) (in race etc) mantener el ritmo; no quedarse atrás; (in comprehension) seguir (el hilo)

share prices have kept up well los precios de las acciones se han mantenido bien

to keep up with sb (in race) seguirle el ritmo a algn

he went so fast I couldn't keep up with him

(in comprehension) seguirle el hilo a algn

to keep up with the class (Educ) (Univ) mantenerse al nivel del resto de la clase; it's important to keep up with your languages es importante que mantengas el nivel de los idiomas; to keep up with the times ir con los tiempos; mantenerse al día; I try to keep up with the news/with current affairs intento estar al día de las noticias/los temas de actualidad; to keep up with demand responder a la demanda; wage increases have kept up with inflation las subidas salariales se han mantenido al nivel de la inflación

to keep up with the Joneses no ser menos que el vecino

Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Examples