keep the pot boiling
The phrase "keep the pot boiling" originates from the practice of maintaining a constant heat under a pot to ensure continuous cooking, symbolizing the idea of keeping something active or ongoing.
Definition
B2General
(informal, idiomatic)To maintain ongoing progress or activity, ensuring that something continues without interruption.
Example
- We need to keep the pot boiling on this project to meet our deadline.
B2Financial
(informal, idiomatic)To earn enough money to cover essential expenses and maintain a basic standard of living.
Example
- She took on a second job to keep the pot boiling while she searched for a better position.
C1Interpersonal
(informal, idiomatic)To continue to provoke or incite someone or something, often in a negative sense.
Example
- He kept the pot boiling by bringing up old arguments during the meeting.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "keep the pot boiling":
on the boilkeep the wolf from the doorkeep atboil upgo off the boilput the pot onkeep it upcome to a boiloff the boilkeep upkeep inadd fuel to the firekeep onbring to a boilsimmer up