treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Alternative form of treat them mean, keep them keen.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen” mean?
Alternative form of treat them mean, keep them keen.
Is “treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.