to keep one's options open
15
4.2
- idiom
:
mantener las opciones abiertas
- She decided to keep her options open by applying to several different universities.
Examples
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Well, I think it's good to keep all your options open.
Fiction book (2001) -
Living below our means has always been something we worked hard at so that we could keep our options open.
Blog text (2) -
Well, I like to keep my options open.
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I told you, I like to keep my options open
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You know, trying to keep my options open.
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So you might want to keep your options open.
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You gotta keep your options open.
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I like to keep my options open.
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We're keeping our options open.
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However, if you prefer to keep your options open, Advantage plans are not the best option for you.
Blog text (25)
Synonyms
54
3.1
Leave an option available for later use
21
3.9
To delay a final decision so you can choose later
14
3.7
Keep something available while you delay a final decision
13
3.6
To keep a chance open for the future
Antonyms
How Committed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'keep' (retain) + 'one's options' (one's choices) + 'open' (not fixed), so it plainly means to avoid committing so alternatives remain available. This compositional pattern is common in English and mirrored in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the component words will very likely understand it.
Etymology
The idiom keep one's options open gives a simple picture: imagine you keep several options open, like leaving many doors open so you can choose later. So it means 'to avoid committing to one choice' and to wait before deciding.