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

It comes amid a series of recent warnings from people inside the industry about the rapidly evolving capabilities of advanced or "frontier" AI models and the regulation needed to keep them in check.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

In today’s story, I’m diving into how a handful of them are navigating this tension between wanting to drive AI adoption while keeping skyrocketing token costs in check.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

That should encourage historically low corporate bond credit spreads — a second cost component in the bond market — to stay mostly in check.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

However, energy subsidies which keep electricity prices in check will now be restricted to families "in need".

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

This kept us in check until, as midnight approached, Peter held forth on how Lord Rothschild was avoiding his responsibility as a father by not inviting him to dinner with his daughter Sarah.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Related Words

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