babysit


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babysit (someone or something)

1. To look after another person's child or children in a temporary capacity. Julia will babysit the kids on Saturday. Any chance you can babysit Justin while I'm at parent-teacher conferences? Your sitter canceled? Don't worry, I can babysit the kids tonight, that's not a problem.
2. By extension, to look after or monitor someone, something, or an animal. Can you babysit these petri dishes and make note of any changes while I go to lunch? A: "Uncle Al is going to know you asked me to babysit him, and he won't be happy." B: "Well, too bad, because I'm not leaving him alone!" Maggie asked me to babysit her cat while she travels for work.
See also: babysit

babysit for (someone)

1. To watch another person's child or children. In this usage, the child is listed after "for." Julia will babysit for the kids on Saturday. Any chance you can babysit for Justin while I'm at parent-teacher conferences? Your sitter canceled? Don't worry, I can babysit for the kids tonight, that's not a problem.
2. To help another person by watching their child. In this usage, the person being helped is listed after "for," and a noun or pronoun can be used between "babysit" and "for." Can you babysit for us tonight? Dave's company is having a work event that we have to go to. I got one of the neighbors to babysit Charlotte for me so I could come to the party. Nah, we ended up staying home—our sitter canceled at the last minute, and we couldn't find anyone else to babysit for us.
See also: babysit, for

babysit with (someone or something)

1. To look after another person's child or children in a temporary capacity. Julia will babysit with the kids on Saturday. Any chance you can babysit with Justin while I'm at parent-teacher conferences? Your sitter canceled? Don't worry, I can babysit with the kids tonight, that's not a problem.
2. To look after another person's child or children in tandem with someone else. I know you've never babysat before, so you'll babysit with Julia on Saturday. Can you please babysit with Mom on Saturday? I know she can't keep up with two toddlers on her own. You're only 12! I won't let you watch my kids unless you babysit with your older sister, got it?
3. By extension, to look after or monitor someone, something, or an animal. Can you babysit with these petri dishes and make note of any changes while I go to lunch? A: "Uncle Al is going to know you asked me to babysit with him, and he won't be happy." B: "Well, too bad, because I'm not leaving him alone!" Maggie asked me to babysit with her cat while she travels for work.
See also: babysit
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

babysit for someone

 and babysit (with) someone 
1. to attend and care for a child for a period of time. I'm looking for someone to babysit for my cousin. Will you babysit with my cousin?
2. to attend and care for a child for someone for a short period of time. Would you mind babysitting Roger for me for a few minutes? Sure, I will babysit for you.
See also: babysit, for
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive ?
As in Alberta, there is no law in Saskatchewan that gives an age at which a child may babysit. Parents, using their best judgement and common sense, must decide.
When is a child legally old enough to babysit?
Do you babysit? I can take my wife to the movies while you watch the kids," Paine told Pant.
Tim Paine's wife shares picture of 'Babysitter' Rishabh Pant
Ms Pasquier said, 'My aim is to make Babysit 4 me the first choice for busy parents, providing them with a service that is caring, professional but most of all reliable.'
Babysitting venture to serve busy professionals
I used to babysit in some very well-to-do people's houses, and I cannot tell you the joy of hearing the front door click shut when the parents went out, after the "well you've got the number if you need anything" conversation.
WEEKEND: A babysitter confesses to snooping in the kitchen; UNPLUGGED
Also, you could ask an aunt or someone in your family tree if you could babysit for them.
My best friend always gets a babysitting job. No one ever asks me. What can I do?
Among the items that have already been put forward for bidders are crockery and vases, household goods and offers of help to tidy the garden, babysit or make a Christmas cake.
Pledges of help go under the hammer
The victim, now aged 25, claimed he used to babysit for Chick and would stay at the family home overnight, when Chick would abuse him.
Rape trial jury to retire
Washington, Apr 20 ( ANI ): Julia Roberts has offered to babysit for newly engaged couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as a wedding present.
Julia Roberts offers to babysit for Brangelina
THRILLED Terry Yorath, who is looking ahead to a great year, said: "I have no idea what it is going to be like becoming a grandad, but I am looking forward to babysitting and all that stuff" happy duo Gabby and Kenny Logan Grandad-to-be can't wait to babysit twins
Town's Terry tells of double baby delight
A BABYSITTER-turned-businesswoman is looking for childminders from Nuneaton and Bedworth as she launches a recruitment drive to find 5,000 people willing to babysit on Millennium New Year's Eve.
Hunt to find baby sitters
Washington, Jan 5 (ANI): Zooey Deschanel has admitted that she is too nervous to babysit her three-month-old nephew.
Zooey Deschanel's babysitting woes
And of the 3,000 parents quizzed by firm ReadyBed, 41% said the biggest reason they stayed in was they felt guilty about asking other people to babysit.
Who's left holding the baby?
Now, I don't want to babysit for my aunt but she gives me pounds 10 and if I tell anyone why, there will be a fight.
I don't want to babysit again after cousin kissed me
My wife feels sorry for her and asks her to stay quite often which is good as she can babysit. But she is always criticising the house, my job and my wife's appearance.
The Sex Doctor: Mum-in-law's such a pain
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