keep it real

English

Etymology

From keep +‎ it +‎ real.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkiːp ɪt ˈɹiːl/
  • Hyphenation: keep‧it‧real
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Verb

keep it real (third-person singular simple present keeps it real, present participle keeping it real, simple past and past participle kept it real)

  1. (originally African-American Vernacular) To perform an individual’s experience of being black in the United States.[1]
  2. (originally African-American Vernacular, colloquial) To be authentic, to be true to oneself; to be cool.[2]
    You can trust Pablo. He always keeps it real.
  3. (idiomatic, colloquial) In the imperative, an exhortation used as a departing salutation.
    A: I'm out, bro. B: Keep it real, son.

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