Meaning of KEEP AN EYE ON - A Really Short English Lesson with Subtitles

So yesterday we looked at the phrase, "..keep an eye out...", and I thought today we should

look at the phrase, "...keep an eye on...".

They have slightly different meanings.

When we say, "keep an eye on", it means to watch or look after something or someone.

A good example would be, sometimes when my wife and I go out we will ask my Mom to come

over and keep an eye on the children, to babysit the children.

So when you say, "keep an eye on", in that situation it means to watch the children or

to take care of the children.

You could also use this phrase for things.

Maybe you are someone who drinks tea and you have put the kettle on to boil some water

but you have to run out you could ask your spouse or wife or roommate to keep an eye

on the kettle for you which would mean that they just take care of it or watch it for

you.