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

Economists think it is unlikely to do so, as economic growth remains weak and price-growth in check.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Olsen: Do you find, especially in the way that your personal and professional lives are intertwined, is it good that you have each other to keep yourselves in check?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Higher yields have kept spreads broadly in check this year, despite significant uncertainty around the risks of “circular financing” in the AI race and whether the data-center boom will pay off.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

This week he signed into law a bill reducing taxes on diesel and capping commercial markups on both diesel and petrol, a bid to keep energy costs in check.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

It ratchets up the difficulty level of keeping all these feelings in check.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

Related Words

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