# keep one's stick on the ice

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/keep-ones-stick-on-the-ice
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To remain vigilant and ready for action.

## Examples

- Keep your stick on the ice and wait for the right moment.
- The market is very unstable right now, so you should keep your stick on the ice until things settle down.
- Even as the negotiations stalled, the diplomat kept his stick on the ice, prepared to intervene the moment a window of opportunity appeared.

## Origin

Derived from the sport of ice hockey, the expression is a literal instruction to a player to remain prepared for the puck. It has transitioned into general Canadian and American English as an exhortation to remain vigilant.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.