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Synonyms

at bay

Idioms  

  1. Cornered, in distress, as in Angry bystanders chased the thief into an alley and held him at bay until the police arrived. This idiom originally came from hunting, where it describes an animal that has been driven back and now faces pursuing hounds. Its use for other situations dates from the late 1500s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It wasn’t a cure, exactly, but ceaselessly applied, it was keeping the effects of greening at bay for a few months at a time.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

The airman was rescued as Iranian forces converged on the spot, with US forces firing their weapons to keep them at bay, reports say.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Without a fan to keep the heat and mosquitoes at bay at home, she had barely slept.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

It is also a constant attempt to stay in control - and keep any threats or challenges at bay.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

I stop and sit on the ledge that keeps all the fake plants at bay, beside his wheelchair, refusing to look at his face.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.