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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at bay

While regular police and military patrols now keep the zama zamas at bay, the community lives with the damage, said 63-year-old resident Sarah Rakgwanhla.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Rather than hammering home his advantage, defending champion Romero went back into his shell and Lopez kept him well at bay with his jab to take the 23rd victory of his career.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

Vaccines, masking, improved indoor air quality and acquired immunity have all kept the virus at bay so that morgue trucks no longer fill the streets.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

Skubal held the Cubs at bay for one more batter by getting Michael Busch to skip a groundball to second baseman Tommy Edman, playing on the edge of the infield grass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Clouds of smoke rise from the mountains to the south and the east as Philippine demolition squads blast bridges and culverts, hoping to keep the Japanese at bay.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Related Words

• captured
• cornered