in check

Idioms  

1. Restrained from moving or acting; under control. For example, The first division held the enemy in check, or Mary kept her emotions in check. This term replaced at check and out of check, which date from the mid-1500s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in check

Medicare is scrapping a temporary program that helped keep the price of monthly premiums in check for older adults with Part D prescription drug plans.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Investors’ nervousness is actually understated since there are eager buyers for long-term debt that help keep yields in check.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

As apex predators, they keep the population of midlevel predators in check, allowing vegetation and other wildlife species lower on the food chain to thrive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

When Trump ran again in 2024, he managed to keep much of that behavior in check.

From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026

Once Prince Dain is the High King, his spies can haunt the shadows of Elfhame with only Dain himself to keep us in check.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• discreet
• laid-back
• mild
• muted
• reasonable
• reticent
• subdued
• tasteful
• unobtrusive