leave the door open vs keep the door open

Both phrases are correct and commonly used in English. They convey slightly different meanings: 'leave the door open' implies that the door is already open and should remain so, while 'keep the door open' suggests actively ensuring that the door stays open.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 1857 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"leave the door open"

This phrase is used to indicate that a door, which is currently open, should remain in that state.

Examples:

Please leave the door open so the cat can come in.
I always leave the door open when I'm expecting guests.
She asked me to leave the door open while she went out for a walk.
We can leave the door open during the day for some fresh air.
Don't forget to leave the door open after you leave.

Show examples from the web [+]

Don't leave the door open, the smell will get out.
So either I lock you out, or leave the door open, for the burglars.
By mistake, my wife did once leave the door open to our apartment and, fulfilling my fears, the squirrel entered forbidden territory.
I noticed you were careful to leave the door open.
You have to leave the door open a little.
You need to leave the door open if you want to see anything.
That would be to leave the door open to abuses of an ethical, eugenic or even racial nature.
Tonight, take a long walk, back home, - And tell your wife to leave the door open.
Better leave the door open to let some smoke out of here.
You can leave the door open, I just want to talk to you.
If there is not a sufficient budgetary arrangement, application of the regulation will not be correctly controlled and this will leave the door open to import frauds.
Don't leave the door open just because you're the last to leave.
What is important, however, is to leave the door open to enable European countries to apply for membership pursuant to the treaties.
I would ask my dad to leave the door open, lights on, music playing, anything to keep the monsters away.
today, do a long turn when you come home - And say to your wife to leave the door open.
It's crucial to leave the door open Once locked, the opportunity is gone
During this debate, I very much want to emphasise once again that we must leave the door open to the three Member States that have chosen not to enter the eurozone immediately.
I do not believe that Parliament's proposal, as set out in Amendment 10, would provide the same level of legal certainty, and it could well leave the door open for further judgments that would lead to even greater legal uncertainty.
Can you leave the door open for us, just a little?

Alternatives:

keep the door open
leave the door ajar
keep the door ajar
leave the door slightly open
keep the door slightly open

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"keep the door open"

This phrase is used to indicate actively maintaining the open position of a door.

Examples:

Please keep the door open while we bring in the furniture.
I like to keep the door open to let in some sunlight.
Could you keep the door open so I can hear the music better?
We need to keep the door open for ventilation.
Keep the door open so the dog can go in and out.

Show examples from the web [+]

For that, use the brick to keep the door open.
Can't keep the door open. Relocks in five.
To keep the door open for the 2 º C, it is necessary to take strong action before 2020, the date by which will come into force a new international climate agreement.
Welcomes the Commission's offer to keep the door open for political dialogue with Cuba; criticises, however, the tight restrictions imposed on any such dialogue on the basis of the 1996 Common Position;
If you're saying you want us to keep the door open when we use the bathroom,
But the legislation should also keep the door open to alternative fuel solutions, that today might have difficulties to live up the legislation in spite of the fact that they provide a CO2 reduction on a well-to-wheel-basis.
An honest dialogue will keep the door open for new developments, such as e-commerce, where China also forms a large potential market.
The Commission wants to keep the door open for full participation in the ENP by a democratic Belarus.
Alliance Defending Freedom's primary purpose is to keep the door open for the spread of the gospel, said Sears. We do that through an integration of strategy, training, funding and legal advocacy.
We all support the conditional Syrian association agreement as the last wedge to keep the door open.
We must also keep the door open for other countries such as Ukraine and perhaps also, one day, Belarus, even though the situation there now is incredibly troubled.
Only by being ambitious now can we keep the door open to stabilising concentrations of greenhouse gases at lower levels, should the IPCC in future indicate that this is necessary.
We can keep the door open.
I really think we should keep the door open.
Do I have to keep the door open?
We got - we got to keep the door open.
Parker, keep the door open.
We'll keep the door open and see.
She'll do her business in the bathroom if you keep the door open.
Sir! Please don't keep the door open too long there.

Alternatives:

leave the door open
keep the door ajar
leave the door ajar
leave the door slightly open
keep the door slightly open

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leave the door open vs keep the door open