keep someone busy
To ensure that someone's attention is occupied, often to prevent them from becoming bored or noticing something.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“These toys keep the children busy.”
“I gave him a difficult project to keep him busy while I finished the report.”
“The manager assigned a series of minor administrative tasks to keep the restless staff busy during the long wait for the final decision.”
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as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
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beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
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bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 04
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
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busy as a bee
Very active; working constantly.
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busy as a nailer
working constantly.
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busy work
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
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call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
Last updated August 10, 2026