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Glite Dictionary
to keep someone's head in the game

to keep someone's head in the game

4 7.4
To stay focused and calm in a difficult situation
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : mantener la concentración
  • During the tough match, the coach reminded the players to keep their head in the game and not lose concentration.
  • Just keep someone's head in the game

Examples

Synonyms

to keep one's eye on the ball
vsto keep someone's head in the game
  • Informal
15 5.6

Pay attention to the main goal and avoid distractions

focuses on steady attention during challenges rather than only task focus
to stay on track
vsto keep someone's head in the game
9 3.2

To focus on a goal without getting distracted

maintains attention steady in difficult situations rather than only progress
to keep one's ears open
vsto keep someone's head in the game
  • Informal
4 3.7

Stay alert to hear useful news or information

gives steady overall attention under pressure rather than mainly listening for information
to keep your head on a swivel
vsto keep someone's head in the game
  • Informal
1 8.1

To stay very alert and watch what is happening around you

focuses attention steadily in challenges rather than constant wide vigilance
to stay on the ball
vsto keep someone's head in the game
  • Informal
1 7.7

To be alert and ready to act

maintains focused attention during challenges rather than quick reactive readiness
to keep on (one's) toes
vsto keep someone's head in the game
  • Informal
5.8

Make someone stay alert and ready for surprises

focuses on self maintained attention in challenges rather than external prompting

Antonyms

to unfocus
1 7.4

To make your eyes or attention less clear

How Focused

to keep someone's head in the game
  • Informal
4 7.4
to concentrate
561 3.4

Surface Forms

keep someone's head in the game infinitive
kept someone's head in the game past
kept someone's head in the game past participle
keeping someone's head in the game present participle
keeps someone's head in the game third person singular

Morphology

keep + someone's + head + in + the + game

The literal parts ('keep' = retain, 'head' = head, 'in the game' = within the contest) combine to suggest maintaining one's mind/attention in a contest, so the overall sense 'remain mentally focused' is partly derivable. However this requires a figurative shift (head → attention/mind) and understanding 'in the game' as an idiomatic state of engagement, which a B1 learner who only knows the constituents might not automatically infer, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Keep someone's head in the game comes from sports, where coaches tell players to keep their head on the ball and stay in the action so they do not look away. That's why it means 'to remain focused and attentive' in a hard or noisy moment.