at bay
Kept in check
At bay describes a position of being held off or kept at a distance.
The phrase comes from hunting—a cornered animal turns to face pursuing hounds, unable to flee but not yet caught.
To hold something at bay is to prevent it from advancing or overwhelming you: She held her doubts at bay.
To keep creditors at bay is to fend them off temporarily.
- corneredUnable to flee
- quarryPit for extracting rock
- menaceSource of potential harm
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- repelDrive off or disgust
back against wall · hold back · prey · wolf pack · vigilance · adversary · wolves · peril · close call · ward off · stave off · fight off · pursued · under siege · baying · distance · fend off · resist
freedom of movement/escape
at bayfree
Without payment or restriction
escaped · at large · on the loose · liberated · in the clear
control/dominance in confrontation
at bayon the offensive
in control · dominant · advancing · pursuing · ascendant