keep tabs on

Idioms  

1. Observe carefully, keep a record of. For example, I hate having my boss keep tabs on my every move, or We've got to keep tabs on outgoing mail so we can keep track of postage. This expression uses to tab in the sense of “an account.” [Late 1800s] Also see keep track.

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Example Sentences

But the department has struggled to keep tabs on whether officers are breaking the rules by turning off their cameras during public encounters.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

A more comprehensive option is Life360, the location-sharing app popularized by parents who want to keep tabs on their teen drivers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

China's sprawling security apparatus has long been accused of infiltrating community organisations as a way to keep tabs on expats and dissidents.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

This will allow practitioners to "keep tabs on people" and offer them new tests and treatments as they are rolled out, he added, while stressing it would be "incredibly confidential and secure".

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

The reaping is a good opportunity for the Capitol to keep tabs on the population as well.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• attend
• check out
• examine
• follow
• listen
• look
• observe
• regard
• scan
• scrutinize
• see
• stare
• view
• wait