keeper
person who looks after something
a person whose job is to look after animals, places, or things
[someone] is the keeper of [something]
- The park keeper opens the gates every morning at six.
- She works as a lighthouse keeper on a small island.
- The museum appointed a new keeper of rare manuscripts.
- The zoo keeper checked that all the cages were locked.
- As jail keeper, he is responsible for the safety of both staff and prisoners.
- The zoo keeper feeds the animals every day.
- The park keeper cleans the park in the morning.
- He is the keeper of the old castle.
- The museum keeper watches the paintings carefully.
- She wants to be an animal keeper when she grows up.
very good romantic partner
a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner who is so good that you want to stay with them for a long time
[someone] is a keeper
- When he cooked dinner and cleaned up without being asked, I knew he was a keeper.
- Anyone who supports you like that is definitely a keeper.
- After meeting her family and seeing how kind she is, his friends told him, "She's a real keeper."
- If someone listens to you and respects your boundaries, that's a keeper.
- My sister says that any partner who makes you laugh every day is a keeper.
- He is kind and honest. He is a keeper.
- She helps me when I am sad. She is a keeper.
- If your boyfriend cooks for you, he might be a keeper.
- My friends say my girlfriend is a keeper.
- A partner who respects you is a keeper.
thing good enough to keep
a thing or idea that is so good that you want to keep it and use it again
[something] is a keeper
- That chocolate cake recipe is a keeper.
- This photo is a keeper; we all look great in it.
- The first draft was rough, but the opening line is definitely a keeper.
- Most of his jokes were bad, but that last one was a keeper.
- Save that logo design; I think it's a keeper.
- This picture is a keeper. We all look happy.
- Your idea is a keeper. We can use it again.
- That story is a keeper. Tell it next time too.
- The teacher says my essay title is a keeper.
- This new password is easy to remember. It is a keeper.
goalkeeper in sports
the player in some sports who stands near the goal and tries to stop the ball from going in
[team]’s keeper [verb]
- The keeper made an incredible save in the last minute.
- They signed a new keeper after their previous one was injured.
- The home team's keeper shouted instructions to the defenders.
- Their young keeper has already kept three clean sheets this season.
- The coach praised the keeper for his quick reactions.
- The keeper stopped the ball with his hands.
- Our keeper is very tall and strong.
- The keeper ran out to get the ball.
- They need a better keeper for the next match.
- The keeper wears a different shirt from the other players.
fish big enough to keep
a fish or animal you catch that is big enough or allowed by law to keep
catch [a] keeper
- He measured the fish and smiled when he saw it was a keeper.
- We threw back the small ones and kept only the keepers.
- That's a keeper, you should take a photo with it.
- Most of what we caught today wasn’t a keeper.
- The guide told us which sizes were keepers and which we had to release.
- This fish is a keeper. It is big enough.
- That one is too small. It is not a keeper.
- We only take keepers home to eat.
- The fishing guide says this one is a keeper.
- He was happy because his first fish was a keeper.
device that holds something
a small part of a machine or object that holds another part in place
[something] has a keeper for [part]
- The watch strap broke because the keeper was missing.
- A small metal keeper holds the cable in position.
- The magnetic keeper protects the bar magnet when it is not in use.
- Make sure the belt passes through the keeper so it doesn’t slip.
- He replaced the worn plastic keeper with a stronger metal one.
- The belt has a small keeper to hold the end.
- A metal keeper keeps the wire in place.
- The bag strap broke when the keeper broke.
- This plastic keeper holds the door open.
- The magnet comes with a keeper to protect it.
- Base: keeper
- Plural: keepers
a real keeper
1someone or something very good to keep
used to say that a person (often a partner) or a thing is really good and you should keep them or it
- Anyone who makes you feel that safe is a real keeper.
- This pasta sauce recipe is a real keeper.
- Your new assistant is a real keeper; don't let her go.
finders keepers
1the finder has the right to keep it
said, often jokingly, to mean that if you find something, you can keep it
- I found a dollar on the street—finders keepers!
- The kids argued over the toy until one shouted, "Finders keepers!"
- He laughed and said, "Finders keepers," when he picked up the dropped scarf.
he's a keeper
1he is a very good partner
used to say that a boyfriend or male partner is so good that you should stay with him for a long time
- He brought soup when you were sick? He's a keeper.
- When he stayed to help clean up after the party, my friends whispered, "He's a keeper."
- If he listens to you and respects you, then he's a keeper.
keeper of the keys
1person who holds important keys
a person whose job or role is to keep and control important keys for a place
- As keeper of the keys, she locks the building every night.
- The old caretaker proudly called himself the keeper of the keys.
- He joked that being the keeper of the keys made him very powerful.
she's a keeper
1she is a very good partner
used to say that a girlfriend or female partner is so good that you should stay with her for a long time
- She waited for you at the hospital all night; she's a keeper.
- If she supports your dreams, she's a keeper.
- My parents met my girlfriend and both said, "She's a keeper."
that's a keeper
1that thing is worth keeping
used to say that an idea, photo, joke, recipe, etc. is so good that you should keep it and use it again
- This photo is amazing—that's a keeper.
- That joke made everyone laugh; that's a keeper.
- Your new logo design is definitely a keeper.