keep out
phrasal verb.to stay away from a place, or to stop someone or something from entering.
phrasal verb.to remain outside a specified area or to prevent entry; functions as both an intransitive imperative and a transitive verb.
“The sign on the gate says 'Keep Out'.”
“We used a tall fence to keep out the neighborhood cats from our garden.”
“Despite the heavy security measures intended to keep out unauthorized personnel, several protesters managed to breach the perimeter during the summit.”
often used as a command on signs; when transitive, the object can go between 'keep' and 'out'.
teach as a high-frequency safety sign first; then introduce the transitive form 'keep [something] out' to show how the meaning extends to protection.
do not use 'to' after 'keep out'; the phrase takes a direct object immediately after the particle.