Cool MateKeep an eye on the clock vs Supervise
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Keep an eye on the clock
Top 2,000 (common)
Supervise
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Keep an eye on the clock | Supervise | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kiːp ən aɪ ɒn ðə klɒk//🇺🇸 //kip ən aɪ ɑn ðə klɑk// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsuːpəvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsuːpərvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To watch the time carefully. | To watch over and manage people or activities. |
| Example | You should keep an eye on the clock during the exam. | to supervise building work |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | keep an eye on time, keep an eye on details, keep an eye on someone | carefully, closely, directly, appoint somebody to, be responsible for supervising something |
| Antonyms | - | neglect, ignore |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'keep an eye on' without specifying what to watch., Using 'clock' in a non-timely context., Missing the sense of vigilance in the phrase. | Confused with 'supervisor' - remember 'supervise' is the action, while 'supervisor' is the person., Using 'supervise' in informal contexts where 'help' or 'watch' would be better., Omitting the object - 'supervise' should always have something that is being supervised. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when reminding someone to pay attention to the time. It's informal and may not be appropriate in very formal settings. | Used in professional or educational contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler terms like 'watch' may be more appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Keep an eye on the clock vs Supervise
What's the difference between Keep an eye on the clock and Supervise?
Keep an eye on the clock: To watch the time carefully. Supervise: To watch over and manage people or activities.
Can you show an example of each?
Keep an eye on the clock: You should keep an eye on the clock during the exam. Supervise: to supervise building work
Can I use Keep an eye on the clock and Supervise interchangeably?
Not always. Keep an eye on the clock and Supervise are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.