keep to the point
keep to the subject

They tried to keep to the point, to make a contribution.

Nothing is more irritating than people who do not keep to the point and talk for too long.

Discursive, you know, but not teaching one to keep to the point.

I am pleased that this resolution has kept to the point.

"This is different," she replied, trying to keep to the point.

The twin sisters could never have kept to the point of any conversation.

Finally he said, "This is all very well, but are we keeping to the point?

Please do not re-open the debate, but keep to the point of order.

"Can you please keep to the point without being insulting?

And keep to the point, or I'll have my guards beat it out of you."

But all he said was, 'This is an open line, so let's keep to the point.

Keep to the point, Anna told herself, whatever the point is.

Come straight to the point and keep to the point are the golden rules of letter writing.

Too wise a fox to be baited, Wharton kept to the point.

Ask a trainee to take the role of the professional with the intention of trying to keep to the point.

But you will keep to the point.

I must keep to the point.

Eumenes' talent was for sounding reasonable, and keeping to the point.

Will you please keep to the point, Mr. Higgins.

All right, Fats, tell your story, and try to keep to the point more closely than this old rattlepate."

Dumarest said harshly, "Let us keep to the point.

- But I'll keep to the point; Hagar wasn't a witch.

Keep to the point.

Shall we keep to the point, Celine?"

'If we could just keep to the point,' said the Chief Education Officer. '

Aloud, he said, "Let us all try to keep to the subject.

It became increasingly difficult for the panelists to keep to the subject of comedy and politics.

They could not be kept to the subject.

Yes, Councillor, will you keep to the subject under discussion and not involving a lot of personal abuse.

He kept to the subject of the guest card, rather than the matter of Mason's lawyer.

"Could we please keep to the subject?

--but, my good sir, let us keep to the subject at present under discussion.

"Yes, I know that," persisted Alethea, determined to keep to the subject at all costs now she had started it.

"Now, now," said Maggie, "let's keep to the subject at hand, if you please.

Mr Vanhecke, I would ask you to keep to the subject of our debate.

He snorted at that reminder, but kept to the subject at hand, wanting to know, "This encounter with him happened the day of his arrival?"

But in spite of the advice to his patient, he kept to the subject of Shipton.

"You didn't keep to the subject," he complained feebly, and Fast Eddie began to cloud up.

"Keep to the subject.

Mr Casaca has bidden me keep to the subject, and that I am happy to do.

Mrs Roth-Behrendt did not keep to the subject.

"I could never keep to the subject I was trying to explain," Tenoctris said with a rueful smile.

Mr President, with regard to electoral campaigns, in France we have already given an opinion and I would prefer that we keep to the subject in hand.

Mr President, first of all I would like to express my appreciation for the fact that the Garosci report keeps to the subject it deals with: the point-of-sale control systems.

I confess that I am now finding it difficult to keep to the subject I had actually planned to speak about, that is Mr Lehne's report on visa policy.

Now, we are going to proceed in an orderly and methodical way, keeping to the subject of the Minutes, which I would like to be able to declare adopted once all of you have spoken.

I think it is important to keep to the subject and not to hold political and ideological prejudices which are so strong that they prevent us from keeping calm when considering human rights in this Chamber.

I would be grateful if Members would abide by the rules of Question Time, which involve giving a supplementary question of 30 seconds and keeping to the subject of the stated question.

A man who wished to resist such turning could insist on keeping to the subject; and forceful men who had the character of genial good nature could get away with open rebuttal of this kind; but not all people who interrupted with open rebuttals acquired or maintained that character.