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Keep at bay

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An idiomatic phrase meaning to prevent approach, maintain distance, or restrain advance; territorial-defense metaphor used in poetry to convey protection, boundary enforcement, or controlled separation through spatial-barrier imagery emphasizing managed proximity.

Detailed Definition
Keep at bay means to hold something threatening, unwanted, or overwhelming at a safe distance. In poetry, it can describe efforts to restrain grief, memory, illness, hunger, enemies, temptation, poverty, or despair. The phrase has defensive force, suggesting a shoreline, enclosure, or guarded boundary. It is useful because what is kept at bay remains present and active; it has not been destroyed. Poets may use it to explore vigilance, self-control, fragile safety, and the labour of resisting return.
Example
Example in poetry:
A plague poem might show smoke and prayer keeping fear at bay through the night; In a love poem, memory keeps loneliness at bay until morning; The phrase keep at bay means hold something threatening or painful at a distance; A poet can use it for enemies, sorrow, hunger, or despair.
Additional Notes
Keep at bay means hold danger, grief, temptation, illness, or an enemy at a distance. The phrase is often linked to hunting or pursuit, where baying hounds or cornered prey create tension. In poetry, it can support images of defence, thresholds, walls, light against darkness, or fragile mental control. Students should note that what is kept at bay is not destroyed, only prevented from coming nearer.
Also Known As
hold off
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