Collocation
I don't want to keep you.
A polite way to end a conversation or visit, implying you don't want to take up any more of the other person's time.
Definition
'I don't want to keep you.' is a common English collocation. A polite way to end a conversation or visit, implying you don't want to take up any more of the other person's time.
I don't want to + keep + someone
“Well, it was lovely catching up, but I don't want to keep you.”
Examples
- It's getting late, and I really don't want to keep you.
- Thanks for the coffee, but I don't want to keep you from your plans.
- I know you're busy, so I won't keep you much longer.
Show more examples
- We've been chatting for hours; I hope I haven't kept you too long.
- Please, don't feel like you have to stay; I don't want to keep you.
- He said he didn't want to keep me, so I left promptly.
- She glanced at her watch and said, 'I don't want to keep you, do I?'
- It was great seeing you, but I seriously don't want to keep you any longer.
- After the meeting, the manager quickly concluded, 'Alright everyone, I don't want to keep you.'
Learn this in a path
More at B2 level
- How do you two know each other? A common question used to ask about the origin or nature of the relationship between two people.
- I've heard a lot about you. I know things about you from other people's accounts or from your reputation, often used as an iceb…
- Mind if I join you? A polite way to ask for permission to participate in an activity or be present with a group.
- I didn't catch your name. This phrase is used to politely state that you did not hear or remember someone's name when they in…
- I've been meaning to introduce myself. To express that you have intended to do something for a while but haven't gotten around to it yet. …