keep the peace
Prevent conflict erupting
To keep the peace is to maintain public order or prevent conflict.
Police officers and peacekeeping forces keep the peace professionally.
In everyday contexts, someone keeps the peace by avoiding confrontation or smoothing over tensions: I just smiled and nodded to keep the peace.
The phrase often implies suppressing one's own views to prevent an argument.
- law enforcementUpholding legal codes
- peaceableAverse to strife
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- defuseRender harmless
- cool headsCalm people under pressure
order · conciliation · truce · cease fire · clear the air · calm · negotiation · de-escalation · break it up · riot control · pour oil on troubled waters · settlement · accord · let it go · standoff · diplomacy · neutral ground · armistice
- peacedove, dove release, olive branch, white flag, treaty
- harmony phrasesin sync, in tune, on the same page, see eye to eye, hand in hand
keep the peacepick a fight
Intentionally provoke a quarrel
stir up trouble · provoke · instigate · incite · cause a scene
keep the peacedisturb the peace
Disrupt public tranquility
sow discord · rock the boat · stir the pot · cause a scene · raise hell
keep the peaceescalate
Increase in severity
drive a wedge · divide and conquer · pit against · make waves · burn bridges
keep, peace, peaceful, kept, keeper, keeping, keeps, pacify, peacefully