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.
Cite this Entry
“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 10 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
