Keep down the weeds?

[Dotti]

Test No. incompl/advan-6 "Phrasal Verbs", question 5

I need to find some kind of chemical that will ......... the weeds in the garden.

(a) keep off
(b) keep out
(c) keep down
(d) keep on

Test No. incompl/advan-6 "Phrasal Verbs", answer 5

I need to find some kind of chemical that will keep down the weeks in the garden.

Correct answer: (c) keep down

Your answer was: correct
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In the answer key you've got a mistake;
I'm sure it should be weeds ;-)

Nice little tests by the way

[Torsten]

Hi Dotti,

Many thanks for pointing out the blunder - it'll be fixed soon.

TOEIC listening, talks: Host of a film celebrity event announces the next keynote speaker

[Flashjet]

I very much believe that the correct response should be "keep out". I mean it seems only logical that one would be looking for a chemical that could “keep” the weeds “out” of the garden.

Don't you think so?

[Alan]

Sorry Flashjet but the right answer should be keep down because here it means control or suppress. Actually keep out sounds quite funny here because it would suggest that the weeds were trying to come into the garden rather like cats and dogs.
Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Flashjet]

I think I get your point. Thank you for the help.

[AudGuy]

Than was funny, Alan, and indeed correct too. :)

[Kaithwfaith]

I knew it; I was choosing between out and down, hehehe. Now I know better. Thanks.

[Sunona]

Hi Alan,

why not "keep off"?

[Ozzy For President]

keep off avoid encroaching on.

■ avoid consuming: the first thing was to keep off alcohol.

■ avoid (a topic).

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/keep%20off

— vb
1. to stay or cause to stay at a distance (from)
2. ( preposition ) not to eat or drink or prevent from eating or drinking
3. ( preposition ) to avoid or cause to avoid (a topic)
4. ( intr, adverb ) not to start: the rain kept off all day
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/keep%20off

I hope these explanations are of help to you.

regards,

Ozzy
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Wealth is a tool of freedom. But the pursuit of wealth is the way to slavery.
Frank Herbert "God Emperor of Dune"

[Sunona]

Thank you Ozzy. That was helpful.

Regards,

Suno