keep sth back
— phrasal verb with keep uk/kiːp/us/kiːp/verb kept, kept
(NOT USE ALL)
to not use the whole amount of something so that there is a small amount remaining for later
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Keeping and storing things
- appropriate
- aside
- bank
- capture
- cling
- cling (on) to sth
- earmark
- lay
- maintain
- pack sth away
- put sth away
- repository
- reserve
- reserved
- storage
- store
- store sth up
- stow
- stow (sth) away
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(NOT TELL)
C2 to not tell someone everything you know about a situation or an event that has happened:
I suspect she's keeping something back.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Secrecy and privacy
- anonymity
- anonymize
- anonymous
- backroom
- backstage
- counsel
- dissimulate
- dissimulation
- entre nous
- executive privilege
- furtive
- lid
- lip
- privately
- privileged
- sanctum
- secrecy
- secret
- skeleton
- sweep
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