Keep out of mischief

Question

Hi, there,Can anyone tell me what the following sentence means? Thanks in advance."The mother told her children to keep out of mischief when they were in school."Does this sentence mean " The mother told her children not to play practical jokes on people and be good when they were at school." or " The mother told her children to keep away from danger when they were in school."? Thanks a lot!

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi, there, Can anyone tell me what the following sentence means? Thanks in advance. "The mother told her children to ... or " The mother told her children to keep away from danger when they werein school."? Thanks a lot![/nq]
The first sense ("The mother told her children to be good when they were at school") would be most typical, but tone and context are also important.
Such statements are often made light-heartedly, and represent a kind of recognition that low-level mischievous behaviour is part of the childrens' way of operating, and that they should not overstep the mark, even though the parent really isn't in a position to compel compliance.
Palpable dangers would be conveyed more explcitly. "You be careful crossing the road!" or "Mind you don't take the short cut through that gully", might be something like the second sense.
FRAN

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hi, there, Can anyone tell me what the following sentence means? Thanks in advance. "The mother told her children to ... " The mother told her children to keep away from danger when they were in school."? Thanks a lot![/nq]
It means a little of both. Usually mischief, upon being discovered, will get a child into trouble, if not danger. No parent wants to deal with that. Well, I'm sure there are a few exceptions.

Keep out of mischief

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