have/keep one's guard up

idiom

: to be careful and alert
He always has/keeps his guard up during negotiations.

Browse Nearby Words

have/keep one's feet on the ground
have/keep one's guard up
have/keep/put one's finger on the pulse of

Cite this Entry

“Have/keep one's guard up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%2Fkeep%20one%27s%20guard%20up. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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