keep something at bay

keep something at bay
keep (something) at bay to control something and prevent it from causing you problems.

She fought to keep her unhappiness at bay.

In the garden, there's no security system to keep the rabbits at bay.

Experts hope the economy will slow enough to keep inflation at bay.


New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • keep something at bay — keep/hold/something at bay phrase to prevent something serious, dangerous, or unpleasant from affecting you Doctors recommend Vitamin C for keeping colds at bay. Thesaurus: to defend or protect yourselfsynonym Main entry: bay * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep something at bay — keep (something/someone) at bay to prevent something or someone unpleasant from coming too near you or harming you. If we can keep the rabbits at bay, we should have a good crop of vegetables in the garden. For me, overeating is a way of keeping… …   New idioms dictionary

  • keep someone at bay — keep (something/someone) at bay to prevent something or someone unpleasant from coming too near you or harming you. If we can keep the rabbits at bay, we should have a good crop of vegetables in the garden. For me, overeating is a way of keeping… …   New idioms dictionary

  • hold something at bay — keep/hold/something at bay phrase to prevent something serious, dangerous, or unpleasant from affecting you Doctors recommend Vitamin C for keeping colds at bay. Thesaurus: to defend or protect yourselfsynonym Main entry: bay * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep at bay — keep (something) at bay to control something and prevent it from causing you problems. She fought to keep her unhappiness at bay. In the garden, there s no security system to keep the rabbits at bay. Experts hope the economy will slow enough to… …   New idioms dictionary

  • hold someone/something at bay — I hold (or keep) someone/something at bay prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect II see bay V …   Useful english dictionary

  • keep at bay — keep (something/someone) at bay to prevent something or someone unpleasant from coming too near you or harming you. If we can keep the rabbits at bay, we should have a good crop of vegetables in the garden. For me, overeating is a way of keeping… …   New idioms dictionary

  • keep at bay — If you keep someone or something at bay, you maintain a safe distance from them …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • bay — bay1 [beı] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(sea)¦ 2 keep/hold something at bay 3¦(area)¦ 4¦(for cargo)¦ 5¦(tree)¦ 6¦(horse)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Sense: 1; Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: baie, from Old Spanish bahia] [ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bay — [[t]be͟ɪ[/t]] ♦♦♦ bays, baying, bayed 1) N COUNT: oft in names A bay is a part of a coast where the land curves inwards. ...a short ferry ride across the bay. ...the Bay of Bengal. ...the San Francisco Bay area. 2) N COUNT: oft supp N A bay is a… …   English dictionary

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