1
general::
Phrase(s): keep company (with someone)
1. Lit. to spend much time with someone; to associate with or consort with someone. • Bill has been keeping company with Ann for three months. • Bob has been keeping company with a tough-looking bunch of boys. 2. Fig. to be courting someone. • Mary and Bill are keeping company. • I heard that Joe is keeping company with Jim Brown’s daughter., Phrase(s): keep someone company
to sit or stay with someone, especially someone who is lonely. • I kept my uncle company for a few hours. • He was very grateful for someone to keep him company. He gets very lonely.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Also, keep company with. Associate with; also, carry on a courtship. For example, He keeps company with a wild bunch, or Jack and Françoise kept company for two years before they married. [Mid-1500s] 2. keep someone company. Accompany or remain with someone, as in Mary kept Mother company while she shopped, or Do you want me to stay and keep you company? This term was originally put as bear someone company. [c. 1300]
American Heritage Idioms