keep-a-close-watch
Chunk: keep a close watch
Meaning & Usage
To keep a close watch means to observe a person, situation, or metric very carefully over a period of time. This is usually done out of concern (like a doctor watching a patient) or suspicion (like police watching a criminal).
🧲 Common Collocates
- Structures: keep a close watch on (someone/something).
- Subjects: police keep a close watch, doctors keep a close watch, investors keep a close watch.
💬 Contextual Examples
- The nurses are keeping a close watch on his heart rate after the surgery.
- The police have been keeping a close watch on the abandoned warehouse.
- We need to keep a close watch on our expenses this month to make sure we don't go over budget.
🎴 Interactive Web Practice
Practice 1: The security guards were told to keep a close ______ on the front entrance.
Answer:
watch Practice 2: We are keeping a close watch ______ the approaching storm.
Answer:
on Practice 3: The teacher decided to ______ a close watch on the students taking the exam.
Answer:
keep 🔗 Knowledge Base Connections
- 🔑 Parent Keyword: watch
- ⚖️ Synonym Chunk: keep-an-eye-on