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Region: General | Usage example: The antivirus kept cyber threats at bay.

Keep someone at bay

Meaning

Prevent someone from causing trouble.

Usage

Applied to threats, emotions, or problems.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Hunting dogs kept quarry at bay.

Appears in 18th century hunting manuals.

Related Idioms

Keep someone in the loop

Maintain engagement through communication.

Give someone the cold shoulder

Ignore or snub someone intentionally.

Let someone off the hook

Release someone from responsibility.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.