I held the attacker at bay while Mary got away and called the police.
•The dogs held the bear at bay while I got my gun loaded.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
hold someone/something at bay — I hold (or keep) someone/something at bay prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect II see bay V … Useful english dictionary
hold — I [[t]ho͟ʊld[/t]] PHYSICALLY TOUCHING, SUPPORTING, OR CONTAINING ♦ holds, holding, held 1) VERB When you hold something, you carry or support it, using your hands or your arms. [V n prep/adv] Hold the knife at an angle... [V n] She is holding her … English dictionary
bay — [[t]be͟ɪ[/t]] ♦♦♦ bays, baying, bayed 1) N COUNT: oft in names A bay is a part of a coast where the land curves inwards. ...a short ferry ride across the bay. ...the Bay of Bengal. ...the San Francisco Bay area. 2) N COUNT: oft supp N A bay is a… … English dictionary
bay — bay1 [beı] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(sea)¦ 2 keep/hold something at bay 3¦(area)¦ 4¦(for cargo)¦ 5¦(tree)¦ 6¦(horse)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Sense: 1; Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: baie, from Old Spanish bahia] [ … Dictionary of contemporary English
bay — bay1 [ beı ] noun count ** 1. ) an area of the coast where the land curves inward: The harbor lights were visible across the bay. 2. ) a partly enclosed area that is used for a particular purpose, for example parking a car a ) an area in an… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
bay — I UK [beɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms bay : singular bay plural bays ** 1) an area of the coast where the land curves inwards The harbour lights were visible across the bay. 2) a partly enclosed area that is used for a particular purpose,… … English dictionary
hold off — verb a) To delay someone or something temporarily; to keep at bay. Lets try to hold off the lawyers until we are ready for them. b) To delay commencing (an action until some specified time or event has passed). Hold off the decision one more day… … Wiktionary
bay — 1 noun (C) 1 SEA an area of the sea that curves inwards towards the land: I had a view across the bay to white sand and pine trees. | Montego Bay 2 keep/hold sth at bay to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening or from coming… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
fight someone/something off — REPEL, repulse, beat off/back, ward off, fend off, keep/hold at bay, drive away/back, force back. → fight * * * defend oneself against an attack by someone or something well fed people are better able to fight off infectious disease … Useful english dictionary
Tampa Bay Rays — 2012 Tampa Bay Rays season Established 1998 … Wikipedia
Guantanamo Bay detention camp — The Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp is a controversial [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3754238.stm Guantanamo controversy rumbles on] ] United States detention center operated by Joint Task Force Guantanamo since 2002 in Guantanamo Bay … Wikipedia
