Exercise

1. Keep me posted means:

a) let me know what happens

b) send me a letter

c) send me an email

2. The expression keep me posted is old-fashioned

a) true

b) false

Answers

1. a

2. b

Read

You’re listening to British Council’s English Online and I’m Nina. Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression keep me posted. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: So, I'll fly to Tokyo for the meeting tonight and I should be back on Monday afternoon.

B: Right, that's fine. And will you keep me posted about the meeting?

B: Yes, I'll call you as soon as I can with some news.

If you ask someone to keep you posted, you want them to keep you up-to-date with information and developments in a situation. These days, we all send instant messages all over the world with our phones and computers, but this expression was originally about sending letters in the mail.

I think it's nice that although some activities become old-fashioned or forgotten, they survive in the English language like this. Not many people sail in ships now, but a lot of English idioms come from a time when they did. Also, people might not write and post letters so often now, but the expression keep me posted is still very common.

And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks.

You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.