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English
Prepositional phrase
on the watch
Alternative form of on watch .
1861 , George Eliot , Silas Marner , ch. 21:
"Come into that little brush-shop and sit down, father—they'll let you sit down," said Eppie, always on the watch lest one of her father's strange attacks should come on.
1897 , Joseph Conrad , "Karain: A Memoir":
Even when he eats and sleeps there is always one on the watch near him who has strength and weapons.
1924 , "Peasants ," Time , 1 Dec.:
His children, married and single, were ever on the watch for what they could get out of him.
2007 , "WEATHER UPDATE ," WBBM780.com (Illinois), 2 Dec.:
The department also notified its Bureau of Forestry and Electricity to be on the watch for ice on trees and power lines.
Synonyms