A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

keep one’s hand in • keep one’s hands off
keep one’s hand in— exercise repeatedly in order to be in
keep body and soul together
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practice: Write a line or two of it every day to keep your hand
in.
keep one’s hands off —stop touching or interfering with
smth.: She knew she had to keep her hands off so he could
learn to tie his shoes by himself.
keep one’s head • keep one’s head up
keep one’s head —retain self-control; remain sensible and
practical: You can depend on him to keep his head no matter
what happens.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase keep one’s head above water— make a living; manage
to survive financially: In spite of all the reverses, he still manages
to keep his head above water.
keep one’s head up —(also: hold one’s head up) stay proud;
not feel ashamed of oneself: I can keep my head up anywhere,
knowing that I achieved something.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase keep one’s chin up— be courageous and determined under
difficult circumstances: Tell Ken to keep his chin up and be as
tough as he made out he was when he comes up against trou-
ble.
keep one’s lid on • keep the lid on someone
keep one’s lid on —(coll.) keep one’s temper; be patient: Keep
your lids on, folks; we’ll have this matter sorted out in just a
few seconds.
keep the lid on someone —suppress or “clamp down” on
rebels, dissenters, etc.: You have the root problem of all colo-
nials — the natives are restless and you can’t keep the lid on
them.
keep one’s mouth shut • not open one’s mouth
keep one’s mouth shut—not talk about smth.; not reveal a
secret: Keep your eyes skinned, there’s a good girl, and, inci-
dentally, keep your mouth shut.
not open one’s mouth —say nothing; remain silent: By the
fact that she did not open her mouth, she acknowledged her
guilt.