To keep at bay means to prevent something or someone from approaching or attacking. It’s like wearing bug repellant. In doing so, you’re attempting to keep the bugs at bay, aka prevent them from coming near and biting you. It comes from the idea of large ships anchoring in the otter deeper waters of a bay or harbor, but it also has ties to hunting.
Idioms in English, like keep at bay, are phrases where the words together have a different meaning than their individual definitions. They help us communicate our thoughts and ideas, whether written or spoken.
Please keep reading as I explain this idiom’s true meaning and origin while sharing a few examples in a sentence so you’ll know how to use the phrase.
Keep at Bay Meaning
Keep at bay refers to the act of keeping something at a distance. It’s about holding off potential dangers or unwanted situations until you can safely get away.
This phrase is metaphorical. It suggests we’re creating a protective barrier against various things. It might be a physical threat, an emotional challenge, or a task we’re hesitant about.
In human interactions, this phrase has another layer. It can hint at caution or holding back. For example, when someone says they’re “keeping their feelings at bay,” they try to control their emotions.
At its core, keep at bay speaks to a deep human instinct. We want to protect ourselves. We want to have control over our environment. This phrase connects us to our primal instincts. Yet, it also shows our capacity to plan and think ahead.
Is It Keep at Bay or Hold at Bay?
Both versions of the phrase are used interchangeably, but keep at bay might ring more familiar to most ears. Hold at bay means the same thing but implies that something has already been kept.
Keep at Bay Origins
The phrase “keep at bay” has rich historical roots. One of its earliest uses can be traced back to hunting practices in the 1300s. In this context, when a hunted animal was cornered and couldn’t escape, it was described as being “at abai.” This term signified the animal’s vulnerable position, trapped and unable to flee.
But the idiom also has nautical ties. When a large ship couldn’t enter the harbor or bay, whether from too much traffic or simply too big for the shallow waters, it would anchor in deeper water further out and wait. This act of waiting at a safe distance resonates with the phrase’s modern meaning of maintaining a protective distance.
Keep at Bay Synonyms
- Ward off
- Hold off
- Repel
- Fend off
- Resist
Examples of Using Keep at Bay in a Sentence
- Jenny kept her annoying coworker at bay by wearing headphones, even when they weren’t plugged in.
- Drinking water throughout the day helps keep my massive headaches at bay.
- I have no idea how the teacher kept the chaos at bay with just a stern look.
- Home remedies like lemon and ginger sometimes keep common cold symptoms at bay.
- If you keep procrastinating, you won’t be able to keep that deadline at bay.
- My mother always said a good skincare routine can keep blemishes at bay.
- Wearing a mask helps keep germs at bay.
- She managed to keep her anxiety at bay during her presentation.
- They installed ceiling fans throughout the house to keep the summer heat at bay.
- I practiced meditation to keep my negative thoughts at bay.
Don’t Keep Grammar at Bay!
Keep at bay is an idiom with historical heft, proving how phrases evolve over time, adapting to our modern tales and woes. Looking for more fun idioms to sprinkle into your conversations? We’ve got a massive collection to sift through on our site!
Check out some others we covered: