at bay

idiom

: in the position of being unable to move closer while attacking or trying to approach someone

—used with keep or hold

The soldiers kept the attackers at bay.

—often used figuratively

The doctors have been able to keep her illness at bay for several months.

Examples of at bay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Goalie Frederik Andersen had a standout performance with a perfect 21 saves and some particularly big stops, including this early one on a Tom Wilson breakaway, keeping the Capitals at bay during their dominant first period. —Sarah Jean Maher, New York Times, 12 May 2025

Preventing boredom will also help keep this behavior at bay. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025

To keep post-hair removal dryness at bay, Dr. Penzi says to follow up with a (preferably fragrance-free and non-irritating) moisturizer afterward. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 May 2025

Fenders with a flared tale keep debris and splashes at bay, and there's a heavy duty kickstand for parking stability. —Paul Ridden may 07, New Atlas, 7 May 2025

Rhymes for at bay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret