the wall —partly because it is so easy today to take a leave of absence and never return. jump the traces • jump the track jump the traces—(coll.) break loose from restraint; misbe- have (also: kick over the traces): I believe there would be enor- mous pressure on us to jump the traces and break out from under discipline. jump the track —1. (of railroad carriages) go off the rails: Just as the train crossed a 40-foot high trestle, it jumped the track . The engine reached the other side, but the next eight cars crashed over the trestle. 2. (coll.) change from one thought or idea to another without plan or reason: Any device that will clarify logical relationships between ideas is important because argument is prone to “jump the track ” and take up unrelated issues. jungle law • natural law jungle law —(also: law of the jungle) the superiority of brute force or self-interest in the ruthless struggle for survival: It was awkward having to explain jungle law to someone who had never emerged from a well-kept shrubbery. natural law —(also: law of nature) 1. is used to refer to a par- ticular phenomenon always occurring if certain conditions are present: Gravity is a natural law (a law of nature) that is dependable and constant. 2. is used of ideas, etc. as implanted by nature in the human mind: In political theory, Spinoza argued that human beings fundamentally act in accordance with natural law . just about • only just just about—1. almost: He knows just about everything there is to know about shipping cargo out of Miami. 2. (followed by Infinitive) on the point of doing smth.: He was just about to fold up the newspaper when he spotted the classifieds. only just—1. a short time ago: I only just heard about the inappropriate way Ms. Jacobson behaved. 2. barely; almost not: The farmhouse can only just be seen from the road when the trees are not in leaf. just you wait • wait for it just you wait—(also: you wait) is used to imply an angry threat, promise, or warning: We’ll teach them a lesson I tell you, just you wait and see. wait for it—is used to create an interval of suspense before saying smth. unexpected: We can have a shower and … wait for it , dinner at the Palazzo Capucci. K keen of something • keen on something keen of something —highly sensitive to smth.; sharp of sight, smell, etc.: A black rhino has poor eyesight, but it is keen of hearing and smell. keen on something—very fond of smth.; enthusiastic about smth.: I was lucky to have a girl like Betty who was keen on football. keep a house • keep house keep a house—1. provide for or manage a household: She kept a house , raised my sister and worked part-time in my dad’s store. 2. (keep a House) secure the presence of enough members of parliament for a quorum (also: make a House): I may support him in his view that the Government have failed to keep a House . keep house—1. = keep a house 1: She kept house well, was a good cook and punctual. 2. (also: keep one’s house) stay indoors (being confined through illness, etc.): Sure, there is no neces- sity for us to keep house till she arrives. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase keep open house—offer hospitality and be ready to welcome and entertain guests at any time: The King kept open house every day, and all day long, for the good society of London. keep a shop • keep shop keep a shop—own and manage a shop; be a shopkeeper: I used to live with my auntie. She kept a sweet-shop . keep shop—look after a shop: Mr. Green got a friend to keep shop for him while he went to his wife’s funeral. keep a straight face • keep straight keep a straight face—(also: keep one’s face) refrain from show- ing one’s feelings by one’s facial expression: All I felt called upon to do was to keep a straight face and pretend that every- thing was kosher. keep straight—(also: go straight) be virtuous or well-behaved; refrain from criminal activities: She meant to marry him in two or three years, if he proved he could keep straight in the meanwhile. keep accounts • keep an account keep accounts—1. make records of money paid out and received: After two years passed in keeping accounts in Cal- cutta, Hastings went up the country. 2. is used of money kept at a bank: Like every other nonbank institution, savings and loan associations must keep accounts with commercial banks. keep an account—1. = keep accounts 2: A current account is an account kept by a customer at a bank to meet his current expenses. 2. count and record the number: A game book is one wherein the sportsman may keep an account of all the game he kills. 3. make written notes: When you go on a vaca- tion, carry a notebook and keep an account of what you do every day. keep an open mind • open one’s mind keep an open mind—(also: have an open mind) be free from bias; avoid forming an opinion until one knows all the facts: Detectives said they were keeping an open mind whether the attacker is the same man. open one’s mind—1. reveal one’s inmost thoughts or senti- ments: The day before he was due to return to France, he opened his mind to Emmie. 2. become receptive to smth. new or different: You will have to open your mind more easily to new ideas. keep away from something • keep out of something keep away from something—1. remain at a distance from smth.: What we really want is for people to keep away from the area. 2. avoid smth.: The day the sun comes out people will hide under umbrellas just to keep away from the sun. keep out of something —1. stay outside; not enter smth.: You understand now why I concealed my name, and why I kept out of the house. 2. = keep away from something 2: It is impor- tant to remember to take water and find a place to keep out of the sun for some of the time. keep bad hours • keep bad time keep bad hours—get up and go to bed late: She didn’t like renting to young people because they kept bad hours and made noise. keep bad time—(of a clock or watch) show the hour incor- rectly: You can tell your battery is dead if your computer’s clock keeps bad time . – 203 – keep bad hours