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

Golden State’s Kaila Charles and Gabby Williams kept Plum mostly in check, holding her to a season-low nine points after her career-high 43-point game in Phoenix on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

But not every airline can keep fares in check by absorbing the higher fuel costs.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

As the medications become more accessible through price cuts and the introduction of a pill version, retailers are taking a harder line to keep returns in check.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

The company quickly raised prices and kept marketing spending in check.

From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026

Jay French-braided my hair last night, and I put my silk bonnet on extra tight to keep everything in check.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

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