at bay

In that case the enemy himself could have occupied the defences of Corinth and held at bay all the Union troops that arrived.

1886, Ulysses S. Grant, chapter XXIX, in Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant

These two books—of sacred, and secular, passages for memory—will serve other good purposes besides merely occupying vacant hours: they will help to keep at bay many anxious thoughts, worrying thoughts, uncharitable thoughts, unholy thoughts.

1889, Lewis Carroll [pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “Preface”, in Sylvie and Bruno, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page xv

The home side grew in confidence after keeping the visitors at bay and took the lead after only nine minutes, from their first foray into the penalty area.

2011 October 23, Becky Ashton, “QPR 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport

The conflict has been a military humiliation, the world’s most expensive and imperious fighting force held at bay by the disposable drones and cheap missiles of a much lesser power.

2026 September 23, David Wallace-Wells, “The Mistake That May Finally Get the Republican Base to Ditch Trump”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

For a moment my gaze traversed the landscape beneath until it was caught and held by four figures near the base of the cliff—a human figure held at bay by three hyaenodons, those ferocious and blood-thirsty wild dogs of the Eocene.

1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter X, in The Land That Time Forgot

Instead of mounted riders following a pack of hounds, it is envisaged that just two dogs will be used to locate a stag and hold it at bay.

2004 November 22, Valerie Elliott, “Two-dog plan to keep law at bay”, in The Times