hold (someone or something) at bay

hold (someone or something) at bay

To keep someone or something at a distance or from reaching full potency, especially in order to prevent harm to oneself. These tree frogs have a powerful poison on their backs that helps hold predators at bay. You have to start meeting your minimum monthly repayments if you want to hold your creditors at bay. During my college years, the only things I had to hold hunger at bay were beans, rice, and plain pasta.

See also: bay, hold

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hold someone or something at bay

Fig. to make someone, a group, or an animal stay at a safe distance. (Originally referred only to animals.) I held the attacker at bay while Mary got away and called the police. The dogs held the bear at bay while I got my gun loaded.

See also: bay, hold

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

hold (or keep) someone or something at bay

prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect.

See also: bay, hold, someone, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hold/keep somebody/something at ˈbay

prevent somebody/something from coming too close or attacking: Vitamin C helps to keep colds and flu at bay.

See also: bay, hold, keep, somebody, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017