keep on — persist annoyingly
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+informaloccasional
To repeatedly ask, complain, or talk about something in a way that becomes irritating or tiresome, especially when directed at someone.
Say it like a native
Textbook He repeatedly raised the subject in an irritating manner.
Native He kept on at me about it.
'Keep on at someone' captures the nagging in a phrase; the long version is stiff.
Pattern: keep on at someone (about something)
In use
- She kept on at me to tidy my room until I finally gave in.interpersonal
- Some parents keep on at their children about studying, which can sometimes have the opposite effect and demotivate them.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She keeps on me to tidy my room.
✓ She keeps on at me to tidy my room.
For the 'nagging' sense, it's 'keep on AT someone'.
Common collocations
keep on at + person— at me, about it, and on, nagging
Don't confuse it
Unlike the basic sense of 'keep on' (to continue doing something), this sense specifically refers to repeatedly bothering or nagging someone, often causing annoyance.
Related
- keep on (continue) — 'keep on' also has the more basic meaning 'continue'; this is the advanced sense.