What does it mean to keep at bay?

What does it mean to keep at bay?

Definition of at bay : 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.

What does it mean to have someone at bay?

phrase. If you keep something or someone at bay, or hold them at bay, you prevent them from reaching, attacking, or affecting you. Eating oranges keeps colds at bay. Prisoners armed with baseball bats used the hostages to hold police at bay. See full dictionary entry for bay.

What does it mean if an animal is at bay?

See synonyms for at bay on Thesaurus.com. Cornered, in distress, as in Angry bystanders chased the thief into an alley and held him at bay until the police arrived. This idiom originally came from hunting, where it describes an animal that has been driven back and now faces pursuing hounds.

How do you use keep at bay in a sentence?

The phrase ‘keep something at bay’ means; that you try to stop a problematic situation from getting closer to you. Example in use: “That kid is very problematic; I am doing my best to keep him at bay.”

Where does at bay come from?

The Old French words ‘abbay’ or ‘abai’ mean ‘barking’. These came into English, first as ‘abay’ and later as ‘at bay’. Hounds that were barking were said in the 14th century to be ‘at a bay’.

Is at bay an idiom?

Cornered, in distress, as in Angry bystanders chased the thief into an alley and held him at bay until the police arrived . This idiom originally came from hunting, where it describes an animal that has been driven back and now faces pursuing hounds. Its use for other situations dates from the late 1500s.

Where does the expression at bay come from?

What does turn at bay mean?

a. (of a person or animal) forced to turn and face attackers.

How do you use the word at bay?

At-bay sentence example. They kept their emotions at bay for the most part.

What does it mean to say keep the wolves at bay?

Meaning: If you keep the wolf at bay, you make enough money to avoid going hungry or falling heavily into debt.

Is a sham to keep his death at bay meaning?

IDIOM. Keep at bay. If you keep someone or something at bay, you maintain a safe distance from them. exact ( 3 ) Warhol “superstitiously believed” that fame could keep death at bay, Mr.

What does keeping someone at bay mean?

“To keep at bay” is an idiomatic English expression meaning to keep at a safe distance. It usually has the sense of a quarry trapped but managing to fend its pursuers off despite being cornered.

What does holding someone at bay mean?

hold (someone or something) at bay To keep something at a distance from oneself, especially that which is harmful or unpleasant; to control something in order to keep it from doing harm to oneself. During my college years, the only things I had to hold hunger at bay were beans, rice, and plain pasta.

What does the slang term Bay mean?

The slang term of Bay means “Baby” or a cute way to call someone you love or are very close to. Tags: bay, baby.

What does Bay mean in geography?

bay (plural bays) (geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more or less three-quarters surrounded by land.