keep at bay

Meaning

This phrase means to control something or someone to prevent them from causing problems, getting too close, or worsening. In business, it is frequently used to discuss managing risks, holding off competitors, or keeping negative market trends under control. The tone is strategic and protective.

Examples

• We need to innovate constantly to keep our competitors at bay.

  We need to innovate constantly to keep our competitors at bay.

• Effective risk management strategies help keep potential crises at bay.

  Effective risk management strategies help keep potential crises at bay.

• By diversifying our portfolio, we managed to keep financial losses at bay.

  By diversifying our portfolio, we managed to keep financial losses at bay.

• The PR team worked tirelessly to keep the negative press at bay during the product recall.

  The PR team worked tirelessly to keep the negative press at bay during the product recall.

• Regular maintenance of our servers is essential to keep security threats at bay.

  Regular maintenance of our servers is essential to keep security threats at bay.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We must keep the competitors on bay.

  ✓ We must keep the competitors at bay.

  The correct preposition is always 'at,' deriving from the historical hunting term 'at bay.'

• ✗ The new strategy kept at bay our rivals.

  ✓ The new strategy kept our rivals at bay.

  When using 'keep at bay' with a direct object, the object typically goes between 'keep' and 'at bay,' especially if it is a short noun phrase.

Related Expressions

Practice

• A solid cash reserve will help ___ financial distress.

  💡 Prevent a bad situation from getting close or causing harm.

  Show answer

  keep at bay

• We must increase our marketing budget to ___ the competition.

  💡 Prevent rivals from catching up or taking market share.

  Show answer

  keep at bay