for keeps

prepositional phrase

With an agreement or intention to retain what one gains or receives.

“When we gamble at poker, we play for keeps.”

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for goodonce and for all
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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. gamesWith an agreement or intention to retain what one gains or receives.

    When we gamble at poker, we play for keeps.

  2. broadlyidiomaticWith a strong competitive resolve to win or succeed, as in sports or business.

    "We both got a job to do. They play for keeps and we play for keeps too," Haggans said.

    2007 Dec. 7, "Steelers' Defense Anticipates Patriots Matchup," KDKA.com (Pittsburg)
  3. Permanently, so that one can keep something indefinitely.

    The Griswold trophy was presented to its winner, for keeps, since it was the third time she had won it.

    1925 August 10, “Golf: Shenecossett Invitation”, in Time

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
for goodonce and for all
Cite this entry
APA

for keeps. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20keeps

MLA

“for keeps.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20keeps. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “for keeps,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20keeps.

Source: for keeps on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.