Keep an eye on means to watch someone or something carefully. In the first meaning, you look after a child, belongings or a home so that nothing bad happens. In the second, you follow changes: prices, your health, the news. The expression is neutral and works both in conversation and in work emails.
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keep an eye on + someone/something; keep an eye out for + something
- Could you keep an eye on my bag while I buy a coffee?
- The doctor told me to keep an eye on my blood pressure for a month.
- Investors are keeping an eye on the exchange rate before making big decisions.
What changed
First versionCan you keep an eye after the kids while I cook dinner?
RevisionCan you keep an eye on the kids while I cook dinner?
The familiar look after may suggest after, but in this idiom your eye is directed at the object, so you need on: keep an eye on the kids.
Keep an eye out for means watching for something that should appear: Keep an eye out for our taxi; it should arrive any minute. Look after means taking proper care of someone, usually for longer: My sister looked after the baby all weekend.
Your turn
Please ___ the soup and turn off the heat if it starts to boil.
Show the answer
keep an eye on — The soup is already on the stove and needs watching, so keep an eye on. Keep an eye out for means watching for something that isn't there yet, such as a taxi or a courier.
Ask a neighbour or colleague to watch something for you while you are away. Say what exactly and for how long.
Could you keep an eye on my flat while I'm in Spain for two weeks?
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