“keep an eye out for”是英语中高频实用短语,核心含义是“留意;密切注意;留心寻找”,强调主动、有目标地关注某事物/人,以便及时发现或捕捉到它。
英文解释:To watch carefully for someone or something, usually because you are looking for it or want to be aware of it when it appears.
中文通俗理解:像“睁大眼睛找”“留个心眼注意”,突出“主动搜索/关注”的动作。
通常用于 “主语 + keep an eye out for + 宾语(名词/代词)”,其中:
主语:可以是人(you/I/we)、组织(the police/company)等有主动行为能力的主体;
“for”:引出需要留意的对象(即“要找/要注意的东西”)。
该短语口语与书面通用,尤其适合日常提醒、寻找、警惕等场景:
日常提醒(让他人帮忙留意):
Could you keep an eye out for my package? It’s supposed to arrive this afternoon.
(你能留意一下我的包裹吗?今天下午应该到。)
寻找某人/物(主动搜索目标):
The police are keeping an eye out for the missing hiker in the mountains.
(警方正在山里留意寻找失踪的徒步者。)
警惕/关注异常:
Please keep an eye out for any suspicious people near the entrance.
(请留意入口附近的可疑人员。)
等待某物(关注动态):
I’m keeping an eye out for the bus—we don’t want to be late.
(我在留意公交车——我们不想迟到。)
需注意与“keep an eye on”的区别:
keep an eye on:意为“照看;监视;留意(已存在的事物)”,强调对已在视线内的对象进行看管或关注(比如“照看宝宝”“盯着行李”);
keep an eye out for:强调对尚未发现的对象进行“主动寻找/留意”(比如“找钥匙”“留意新来的人”)。
对比例子:Keep an eye on the cake while I’m gone—it might burn.(我走的时候盯着蛋糕,别烤焦了。)→ 蛋糕已在烤箱,需“看管”;
Keep an eye out for the cake mix—I think I left it in the pantry.(留意一下蛋糕粉,我好像放在食品柜里了。)→ 蛋糕粉未找到,需“寻找”。
现在分词:keeping an eye out for(表示“正在留意”):
I’ve been keeping an eye out for that movie ticket—did you see it?
(我一直在找那张电影票,你看到了吗?)
过去式:kept an eye out for(表示“过去留意过”):
She kept an eye out for her friend at the concert but didn’t spot her.
(她在音乐会上留意找朋友,但没找到。)
总结:“keep an eye out for”是“主动留意/寻找”的实用表达,记住它的核心是“找还没发现的东西”,结合场景用起来很自然!