keep a house—
1. provide for or manage a household:
- She kept a house, raised my sister and worked part-time in my dad’s store.
2. (keep a House) secure the presence of enough members of parliament for a quorum (also: make a House):
- I may support him in his view that the Government have failed to keep a House.
keep house—
1. = keep a house 1:
- She kept house well, was a good cook and punctual.
2. (also: keep one’s house) stay indoors (being confined through illness, etc.):
- Sure, there is no necessity for us to keep house till she arrives.
Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase keep open house—offer hospitality and be ready to welcome and entertain guests at any time:
- The King kept open house every day, and all day long, for the good society of London.