For keeps


What's the meaning of the phrase 'For keeps'?

Play to keep the winnings. Also, more generally, especially in America, ‘in deadly earnest; in such a way that the result will stand’.

What's the origin of the phrase 'For keeps'?

The game of marbles is older than recorded history – marbles have been found in ancient Egyptian and Roman tombs. There is a version of the game that has been in vogue since at least the mid 19th century which is called keepies or for keeps. As the name suggests, whoever wins the game keeps all the marbles. This is cited in an 1861 edition of the journal The Ladies’ Repository:

“See, mother, what a lot of marbles I’ve got!” said John.
“I want you to make me a great big bag to put them in.”
“Why, where did you get so many, my son?” asked his mother.
“I won them from Peter Jones. See I got his glass taw too. I loaned him one of mine to play with while he put that in the ring. Isn’t it pretty?”
“How much did you pay him for them?”
“Pay him! Nothing. He and I played for ‘keeps’ and I was the best player and won all his.”

The US meaning of the term is recorded from almost the same date. In 1866, Shanks’ Personal Recollections included this:

“‘Fighting for keeps’ is army slang and signifies fighting in deadly earnest.”

Trend of for keeps in printed material over time

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
For keeps

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