keep one's nose to the grindstone
have one's nose to the grindstone
hold one's nose to the grindstone
To work hard all the time; keep busy with boring or tiresome work.
Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves as much as possible to start her own business.
keep plugging along
To continue to work diligently and with great effort, often against hardship.
Bob was not particularly talented but he kept plugging along year after year, and eventually became vice president.
keep smb's nose out of smb's business
Не лезть в чужое дело; не совать нос в чужие дела
Keep your nose out of my business.
Не лезь не в свое дело.
keep the ball rolling
To keep up an activity or action; not allow something that is happening to slow or stop.
Clyde kept the ball rolling at the party by dancing with a lamp shade on his head.
keep the home fires burning
To keep things going as usual while someone is away; wait at home to welcome someone back.
Присматривать за домом пока кто-то в отъезде; ждать дома чтобы поприветствовать возвратившегося человека.
While John was in the army, Mary kept the home fires burning.
Please, don't worry. I will stay home and keep the home fires burning while you are on holiday.
Пожалуйста, не беспокойся, я останусь дома и буду присматривать за хозяйством, пока ты в отпуске.
keep things humming
make things hum
To cause thing to perform smoothly and efficiently.
Until Mr. Long joined our computer center, we had all sorts of problems, but he has corrected them and really keeps things humming.
kettle of fish
fine kettle of fish
pretty kettle of fish
Something to be considered; how things are; a happening; business.
I thought he needed money, but it was another kettle of fish - his car had disappeared.
Usually used with pretty, fine, nice, but meaning bad trouble.
He had two flat tires and no spare on a country road at night, which was certainly a pretty kettle of fish.
This is a fine kettle of fish! I forgot my book.
kick against the pricks
To fight against rules or authority in a way that just hurts yourself.
Johnny kicked against the pricks in his foster home until he learned that he could trust his new family.