hold (someone or something) at bay
hold (someone or something) at bay
To keep someone or something at a distance or from reaching full potency, especially in order to prevent harm to oneself. These tree frogs have a powerful poison on their backs that helps hold predators at bay. You have to start meeting your minimum monthly repayments if you want to hold your creditors at bay. During my college years, the only things I had to hold hunger at bay were beans, rice, and plain pasta.
See also: bay, hold
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
hold someone or something at bay
Fig. to make someone, a group, or an animal stay at a safe distance. (Originally referred only to animals.) I held the attacker at bay while Mary got away and called the police. The dogs held the bear at bay while I got my gun loaded.
See also: bay, hold
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
hold (or keep) someone or something at bay
prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect.See also: bay, hold, someone, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
hold/keep somebody/something at ˈbay
prevent somebody/something from coming too close or attacking: Vitamin C helps to keep colds and flu at bay.See also: bay, hold, keep, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- hold at bay
- hold someone or something at bay
- hold/keep somebody/something at bay
- keep (someone or something) at bay
- keep something/someone at bay
- leave (someone, something, or oneself) (wide) open for (something)
- leave oneself wide open for
- keep (someone or something) in sight
- keep sight of
- keep sight of somebody/something