How do you say “Keep an eye on” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is garder un œil sur, which literally means “to keep an eye on”. English speakers use keep an eye on to mean watch someone or something carefully to make sure they are safe or doing the right thing. Although traditionally viewed by purists as an anglicism, this expression is universally used and completely natural in everyday modern French. It is neutral, informal and common in everyday French.
Closest natural French
garder un œil sur
/ɡaʁ.de œ̃.n‿œj syʁ/
- Literal meaning
- “to keep an eye on”
- Register
- neutral, informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
95 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
Both English and French share this exact visual metaphor to describe monitoring something with divided attention. In French, "garder un œil sur" applies to babysitting children, watching luggage in public, or ensuring food on the stove does not burn. While nineteenth-century lexicographers often flagged it as a calque of the English idiom, it has achieved complete idiomatic naturalness across all francophone regions today.
Take care not to confuse "garder un œil sur" with neighboring eye-related idioms. "Jeter un œil" means merely taking a quick glance, whereas "avoir quelqu'un à l'œil" introduces a watchful, distrustful tone, equivalent to watching someone carefully because you suspect they might misbehave or cause trouble.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity5 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in French?
avoir un œil sur
Literally: “to have an eye on”
Virtually interchangeable with 'garder un œil sur', commonly used when maintaining ongoing awareness.
surveiller
Literally: “to watch over / monitor”
The standard neutral verb, suitable for more formal contexts where the idiom might feel too conversational.
avoir à l'œil
Literally: “to have at the eye”
Carries a nuance of suspicion, closer to 'keeping tabs on' someone or watching them like a hawk.
Don't translate it literally
tenir un œil sur
'Tenir' translates 'to keep/hold' in physical contexts, but it is never used in this idiom. Only 'garder' or 'avoir' work.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in French, not as expressions.
In context
English
Could you keep an eye on my suitcase for a minute while I go to the restroom?
French
Tu pourrais garder un œil sur ma valise une minute pendant que je vais aux toilettes ?
English
I need to keep an eye on the milk so it doesn't boil over.
French
Je dois garder un œil sur le lait pour éviter qu'il ne déborde.
Related expressions
Last reviewed 2026-09-11