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keeps you honest

English translation: keeps you out of trouble/harm\'s way

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:keeps you honest
Selected answer:keeps you out of trouble/harm\'s way
Entered by: S.J

02:59 Apr 27, 2021
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / keeps you honest
English term or phrase: keeps you honest
I chopped my first tree when I was 14. I don't mind it. It keeps you honest. Definitely get a good night's sleep out of it.

It is someone who is talking about his work in banana tree chopping. I didn't get what he would say by "keeps you honest" when he is talking about tree chopping. The material is Australian.

Thanks in advance,
S.J
Canada
Local time: 18:18
keeps you out of trouble/harm's way
Explanation:
This doesn't necessarily mean it prevents you from committing crimes - it could just mean it gives you gainful employment so you're not hanging around on the street.
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6keeps you out of trouble/harm's way
philgoddard
4 -1no regrets and I did what I did
David Hollywood
4 -2following a diet
Min Xuanping


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
following a diet


Explanation:
It is not rare in AE to use the word "honest" when it comes to following a diet.


    https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/to-keep-me-honest.3308909/
Min Xuanping
China
Local time: 06:18
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Daryo: no. this is off-off-off tangent.
6 hrs
disagree  Yvonne Gallagher: not the meaning
9 hrs
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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
no regrets and I did what I did


Explanation:
in this context

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2021-04-27 03:16:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

he's actually proud of what he did and will lose no sleep over it

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2021-04-27 03:17:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

might have been ok at the time and seen as productive although nowadays another story

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2021-04-27 03:26:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

implication is that he did a good day's work and proud of it

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2021-04-27 03:30:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

he's saying that he's a hard worker and that that's the way to go

David Hollywood
Local time: 19:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 116

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Daryo: might sound plausible in this context, but it has nothing to do with the underlying logic that's behind "It keeps you honest"
6 hrs
  -> oh I think it does Daryo... have you read the full context?
neutral  Yvonne Gallagher: not explained fully though close enough on 5th attempt!
9 hrs
  -> very kind of you Yvonne and I think we have to consider the full context
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
keeps you out of trouble/harm's way


Explanation:
This doesn't necessarily mean it prevents you from committing crimes - it could just mean it gives you gainful employment so you're not hanging around on the street.

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 119
Grading comment
Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mark Robertson
2 hrs
agree  Daryo: yes, or "keeps you away from temptation" - so you stay honest.
4 hrs
agree  Orkoyen (X): Yes, as in keeps you on the straight and narrow.
7 hrs
agree  Charlotte Fleming
7 hrs
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: You're busy, have no time to think about 'deviating'...
19 hrs
agree  Christine Andersen: And you are healthily tired at the end of the day, so you sleep well after exercise as much as because your conscience is clear
1 day 3 hrs
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