keep something at bay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep something at bay" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of preventing something undesirable from approaching or affecting you. Example: "To maintain a healthy lifestyle, it's important to keep stress at bay through regular exercise and mindfulness practices."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The brilliant grief and madness in Plummer's voice when Felice suggests that he and his sister go out into the world recalls not only Williams's lifelong struggle to keep reality at bay by imagining something else but also the ways in which one sibling's body and feelings can inhabit another's.

The New Yorker

By early this March Cohen and Steers were putting a full-court press on REITs to do something big: raise billions to keep lenders at bay.

Forbes

Restrictive immigration laws passed since 1973 have generally upheld the conservative idea that, as the German philosopher Carl Schmitt put it, "a democracy demonstrates its political power by knowing how to refuse or keep at bay something foreign and unequal that threatens its homogeneity".

The Guardian - Books

"How do I keep it at bay?

Independent

Can they keep Qld at bay here?

The Guardian - Sport

One caveat: keep poachers at bay.

The New York Times - Food

Antibiotics keep infections at bay but also create drug resistance.

The New York Times - Health

"I try to keep fear at bay," Leonardo said Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

These are expected to keep insurgents at bay.

The Economist

Together they hope legalese will keep Anna at bay.

The New York Times

Personally, I would rather keep it at bay.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep something at bay", ensure the 'something' is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "try to keep at bay", specify what you are trying to keep at bay, such as "keep anxieties at bay".

Common error

Avoid passively expecting things to "keep at bay" on their own. The phrase implies active effort, so ensure the sentence reflects a subject actively working to prevent something. Instead of "Stress should be kept at bay", write "Actively manage your time to keep stress at bay".

How to use

Learn how to use "keep something at bay" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep something at bay" functions as a verbal phrase. It indicates an action taken to prevent something from approaching or affecting a particular entity or situation. Although no explicit example exists in Ludwig, the provided data suggests this usage is widely understood.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "keep something at bay" is grammatically sound and aims to express an ongoing effort to prevent or protect against something undesirable. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in English, usually to describe avoiding a bad thing from getting close to you. Although there are no examples provided by Ludwig, this analysis suggests various alternatives such as "ward something off" and "hold something back". For clarity, it's best to specify what is being kept at bay and to ensure the sentence reflects active effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep something away

Simple and direct, indicating maintaining a distance.

ward something off

Suggests repelling or averting something harmful or undesirable.

fend something off

Implies actively defending against an attack or unwanted advance.

repel something

Indicates a strong aversion and the act of driving something back.

deflect something

Implies turning something aside to avoid its direct impact.

hold something back

Emphasizes restraining or controlling something, often a force or emotion.

deter something

Highlights the act of discouraging or preventing something through fear or doubt.

hold something off

Focuses on delaying or postponing something, usually something negative.

shield oneself from something

Emphasizes protection and defense against something harmful.

block something

Focuses on creating an obstruction to prevent passage or effect.

FAQs

How can I use "keep something at bay" in a sentence?

Use "keep something at bay" to describe preventing something undesirable from affecting you. For example, "Regular exercise can help "keep stress at bay"" or "Strict border controls are necessary to "keep diseases at bay"".

What are some alternatives to "keep something at bay"?

You can use alternatives such as "ward off something", "fend off something", or "hold something back", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "keep at bay" without specifying what is being kept at bay?

While grammatically correct, it's better to specify what you are trying to "keep at bay" to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of "We must keep at bay", specify "We must "keep complacency at bay"".

What is the difference between "keep something at bay" and "prevent something"?

"Keep something at bay" implies an ongoing effort to maintain distance from something, while "prevent something" suggests stopping something from happening at all. For instance, you might "keep infections at bay" through hygiene, but "prevent infections" through vaccination.