remain to be seen
To not yet be clear, certain, or known. We can see for ourselves the disaster's immediate impact, but the long-term environmental effects remain to be seen. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the president's popularity on other issues will carry over into this more controversial endeavor.
remain in touch
To maintain contact with another person, especially at intervals so as to stay up to date with each other's lives. My old high school friends and I tried remaining in touch after we graduated, but we all started drifting apart once college got underway. Now, make sure you remain in touch, OK? I want to hear all about your time in Paris!
at bay
At a safe distance; held back by some action. That preventative course of antibiotics really kept the illness at bay—I was hardly sick at all! We have a security system to keep burglars at bay.
ahead of
1. Physically in front of something or someone. We have special passes that let us go ahead of other people in line for the ride.
2. In advance of. I made sure to have all of my work done ahead of my vacation.
3. In control of; in a position to deal with something before it becomes a problem or a burden. So many requests have been pouring in that I simply can't stay ahead of my e-mails.
ahead of the game
Gaining or maintaining an advantage in a situation, often by completing a task before its given deadline. My term paper isn't due until next week, but I want to be ahead of the game and finish it tonight. It's hard to stay ahead of the game in network security when the threat landscape is constantly changing.
*ahead (of someone or something)
farther forward than someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; keep ~; remain ~; stay ~.) I managed to get ahead of everyone else in line and get tickets for everyone. Try to stay ahead of that big truck we just passed.
*ahead of something
ahead or on target with one's work schedule or responsibilities. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; keep ~; remain ~; stay ~.) By the end of the week, I usually can get ahead of my duties, but not by much. Jerry can't seem to get ahead of his work.
*ahead of the game
being early; having an advantage in a competitive situation; having done more than necessary. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; keep ~; remain ~; Stay ~.) Without the full cooperation of my office stafj', I find it hard to stay ahead of the game. If being ahead of the game is important to you and to your business, lease a mobile phone from us.
*at bay
Fig. at a distance. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone or something ~; remain ~.) I have to keep the bill collectors at bay until I get my paycheck. The mosquitoes will not remain at bay for very long.
*clear of something
without touching something; away from something. (*Typically: keep ~; move ~; remain ~; stand ~.) Please stand clear of the doors while the train is moving. Make sure the dog moves clear of the driveway before backing the car up.
clear someone of something
to show that a person is innocent; to exonerate someone of a crime. (See also
clear someone's name.)
An investigation cleared me of any wrongdoing. They were unable to clear themselves of the charges.*in limbo
1. Lit. a region of the afterlife on the border of hell. (In some Christian religions, there is a limbo set aside for souls that do not go to either heaven or hell. This sense is used only in this religious context. *Typically: be ~; remain ~; stay ~.) The baby's soul was in limbo because she had not been baptized.
2. Fig. in a state of neglect; in a state of oblivion; in an indefinite state; on hold. (*Typically: be ~; leave something ~; put something ~.) We'll have to leave the project in limbo for a month or two. After I got hit on the head, I was in limbo for about ten minutes.
*in the back of someone's mind
Fig. remembered by someone, but not very important; vaguely remembered by someone. (*Typically: have something ~; keep something ~; leave something ~; put something ~; remain ~; Stay ~.) You should put this problem in the back of your mind and concentrate on other things.
Keep in touch.
Good-bye. (Sometimes a sarcastic way of saying good-bye to someone one doesn't care about.) Nice talking to you. Keep in touch. Sorry, we can't use you anymore. Keep in touch.
keep in touch
(with someone) Go to in touch (with someone).
keep in touch (with someone or something)
and remain in touch (with someone or something); stay in touch (with someone or something)to maintain communications with someone; to maintain up-to-date knowledge about someone or something. After my neighbor moved, we still remained in touch. I want to stay in touch with my office over the someone or something, in any combination weekend.
*on (one's) guard (against someone or something)
alert against someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; keep ~; remain ~; stay ~.) Try to stay on guard against pickpockets. I am always on my guard. Be on guard when you go into the city.
remain ahead
(of someone or something) Go to ahead (of someone or something).
remain at some place
to stay at some place; to stay behind at some place. I will remain at the office until supper time. Please remain at home until I call you.
remain away (from someone or something)
to stay away from someone or something. I must ask you to remain away from my daughter. I cannot remain away any longer. I must be with her.
remain behind
to stay at a place even when others have left. Can't I go too? Do I have to remain behind? I will remain behind for a day or two.
remain down
to stay down; to keep down. I asked them to remain down until the shooting stopped. Please remain down with me so no one will see us.
remain in (something)
1. to stay within something. Please remain in the house today. It is too cold to go out. You should remain in because the weather is bad.
2. to stay in an organization as a member. He remained in the Boy Scouts until he was sixteen. I will remain in the teacher's union for many years.
remain in touch
(with someone or something) Go to keep in touch (with someone or something).
remain on
1. to continue to stay in one place. (The on is an adverb, not a preposition.) Everyone else left, but I decided to remain on there. I remained on for a while during the time they were training my replacement.
2. and remain on something to continue to be on something; to continue to serve on a body. Will you remain on the board of directors for another year? I will remain on this committee as long as I am needed.
3. to continue to take a particular medicine. How long should I stay on these pills? I want you to remain on this medication until you run out.
remain on
(one's) guard (against someone or something) Go to on (one's) guard (against someone or something).
remain together
to stay close together; to stay in association. We will have to remain together while we are on this tour. It is very easy to get lost in this town. The two boys remained together throughout college.
remain under something
to continue to stay beneath the surface of something. Please remain under the umbrella so you don't get wet. A lot of people decided to leave the shelter, but I remained under it.
remain up
to stay awake and out of bed. I remained up throughout most of the night. I cannot remain up much longer.
remain within (something)
to stay inside something or some place. Please try to remain within the boundaries of the campus. Everyone else went out, but I decided to remain within.
ahead of the game
In a position of advantage, especially financially; succeeding or winning. For example,
If we can sell 2,000 units of this product by next month, we'll be well ahead of the game . This idiom uses
ahead of in the sense of "in advance of," a usage dating from the mid-1700s, and transfers success in gambling (
the game) to winning in other areas. Also see
come out ahead.
at bay
Cornered, in distress, as in Angry bystanders chased the thief into an alley and held him at bay until the police arrived . This idiom originally came from hunting, where it describes an animal that has been driven back and now faces pursuing hounds. Its use for other situations dates from the late 1500s.
in limbo
1. In a condition of oblivion or neglect, as in They kept her application in limbo for months. [Early 1600s]
2. An intermediate or transitional state, as in After his editor left the firm, his book was in limbo. [Early 1600s] Both usages allude to the theological meaning of limbo, that is, a place outside hell and heaven to which unbaptized infants and the righteous who died before Christ's coming were traditionally consigned.