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The use of "keep" to mean "put away" (possibly dialectal or novel usage)

English Language & Usage Asked by PrettyHands on February 10, 2021

In Welsh, cadw, the verb corresponding to the English verb keep can be used to mean put away or store (something) in its appropriate place.

Welsh-speakers will sometimes be teased for transferring this usage into their English, for example:

keep the dishes will you?
I’ve kept the laundry and now I’m ready to leave.

However, a close first-language English friend of mine from the Midlands swears that she uses keep in the same way, and that usage is considered normal in her area.

I’ve not found any evidence of this in the OED (despite scrolling through all the different meanings assigned to keep), or in any other dictionary. As keep is such a common word, it’s hard to find anything relevant on Google.

There is, however, some independent corroboration in this post:
Can keep be used as a replacement for store?

(I suspect they may have been asking the same thing, but without the Welsh dimension to the question).

I’m wondering if any non-Welsh English speakers are familiar with this usage? Is it found in certain dialects, or could it be a new pattern that’s emerging in the language?

Thanks in advance.

3 Answers

I second user067531. There are a number of definitions of to put away in American English and Canadian English dictionaries, one of which is "to keep." However, in this instance, it's more common to "store," "stow," or "put away" the dishes. When putting away the laundry, it may make more sense to say "fold," "hang," "organize", (or maybe even stash ;) the laundry...)

Answered by Emily Shine on February 10, 2021

Off the top of my head I am thinking "ship's keep" which may be where valuable items on the ship are kept. Might also refer to a jail cell " Put him in the keep". Would like to add reference, but busy on other matters - google "ship's keep"

Answered by roger bosco on February 10, 2021

Using "keep" to mean "put away" is quite common in Singaporean and Malaysian English as well. This usage is likely influenced by Chinese, where , while most commonly glossed "receive", can also mean "accept" (keep) or "put away".

Answered by lambshaanxy on February 10, 2021

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