keep (someone) on his/her toes

phrase

informal

: to cause someone to be alert and prepared to deal with problems

The boss made regular inspections in order to keep employees on their toes.

Examples of keep (someone) on his/her toes in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Despite having to keep on her toes while shooting, now that the film is out there, Kane’s performance is earning widespread acclaim. — Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2024

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“Keep (someone) on his/her toes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20%28someone%29%20on%20his%2Fher%20toes. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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keep (someone) on his/her toes

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Examples of keep (someone) on his/her toes in a Sentence

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