Keep Your Nose Clean In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "Keep Your Nose Clean", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

author Mia Le calendar 2023-04-15 02:04

Meaning of Keep Your Nose Clean

Keep Your Nose Clean American informal verb phrase

To avoid getting into trouble or do anything wrong or illegal

​​​​​​​Kenny, trying to keep your nose clean or you will be back in prison!

Chloe is turning 25 next month, but still keep her parents worried because she cannot keep her nose clean.

You'd better keep your nose clean by staying away from those drug dealers.

Sloane would become a director now, if she had kept her nose clean from corruption.

Other phrases about:

one cannot love and be wise

people often do irrational or foolish things when they are in love.

two can play at that game

Used when you threaten to harm someone in the same way as they harmed you

(as) awkward as a cow on a crutch

Used to describe someone who is clumsy or cannot control their movements effectively

forget (one's) manners

To behave rudely or impolitely

good/bad form

Good form is behavior or actions that are socially appropriate while bad form is rude or inappropriate behavior or actions.

Grammar and Usage of Keep Your Nose Clean

Verb Forms

  • keeping your nose clean
  • kept your nose clean
  • to keep your nose clean

'keep your nose clean' starts with a verb, therefore, it needs to conjugate in the sentence.

Origin of Keep Your Nose Clean

'keep your nose clean' is originated from the phrase "keep the hands clean" which was widely used in England in the 18th century to describe the avoidance of corruption. Lately, when it is adopted in the US, it became modified to "keep your nose clean" which literally meant to keep your nose out of what doesn't concern you. This new phrase then became widely adopted to mean avoiding doing anything improperly or illegally.

The Origin Cited:
error

Report Error

Do you see anything wrong?

Share your idioms

If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.

Submit An Idiom

Make a Donation!

Help us update and complete more idioms

Donate

TODAY
run against the grain

To do something in an unusual way

Example:

I guess I like to run against the grain in everything I do.

Join the Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates!

Darkmode