at bay | Idiomator

Meaning: (set phrase,idiomatic)Unable to comecloser; at adistance.1886,Ulysses S. Grant, chapter XXIX, inPersonal Memoirs of U.S. Grant:In that case the enemy himself could have occupied the defences of Corinth and heldat bayall the Union troops that arrived.1889,Lewis Carroll[pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “Preface”, inSylvie and Bruno, London; New York, N.Y.:Macmillan and Co.,→OCLC,page xv:These two books—of sacred, and secular, passages for memory—will serve other good purposes besides merely occupying vacant hours: they will help to keepat baymany anxious thoughts, worrying thoughts, uncharitable thoughts, unholy thoughts.2011October 23, Becky Ashton, “QPR 1 - 0 Chelsea”, inBBC Sport‎[1]:The home side grew in confidence after keeping the visitorsat bayand took the lead after only nine minutes, from their first foray into the penalty area.; (set phrase,idiomatic)Cornered; unable toflee.1855,Robert Browning,Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, section XXXI:The hills, like giants at a hunting, lay / Chin upon hand, to see the gameat bay,— / "Now stab and end the creature - to the heft!"1918,Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter X, inThe Land That Time Forgot: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 heldat bayby three hyaenodons, those ferocious and blood-thirsty wild dogs of the Eocene.2004November 22, Valerie Elliott, “Two-dog plan to keep lawat bay”, inThe Times: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 itat bay.; (heraldry)Of an animal, especially adocileanimal in contrast to a predatory animal which would be blazonedstatant: standing, in profile toward dexter, with all four feet on the ground.(If gazing at the viewer, the animal isat gaze.)

Examples:

EN: She learns of the confession and of the desperate stand at bay in the valley
ES: Se entera de que ha confesado... y de su resistencia desesperada, acorralado en el valle.
EN: Well, if no one else can keep him at bay ...I guess me and my sons should give it a try.
ES: Bueno, si nadie es capaz de mantenerle a raya mis hijos y yo podemos intentarlo.
EN: Hold him at bay, but do not shoot.
ES: Mantenlo a raya, pero no dispares.
EN: - Can I call the mayor an animal at bay?
ES: - ¿Puedo llamar buitre al alcalde?
EN: Get the sense of an animal at bay.
ES: Consiga la sensación de animal acorralado.
EN: For 5 million pounds we can hold Napoleon at bay.
ES: Por 5 millones de libras podemos mantener a Napoleón a raya.
EN: He stands now at bay before the kings.
ES: Ahora está acorralado ante los reyes.
EN: We have Sebastopol under siege and our forces have the Russians at bay, so to speak.
ES: Nosotros tenemos a Sebastopol sitiada y nuestras fuerzas tienen a los rusos, en raya, por así decirlo.
EN: - Get the sense of the animal at bay.
ES: - Es un animal acosado.
EN: The boy who held the king of beasts at bay with his bare hands.
ES: El hombre que tomó en sus manos al rey de las bestias.
EN: Yes, you are already famous, and no doubt rich enough for a man at bay to appeal to you, quite simply.
ES: Sí, Ud. Es famoso y rico, sin duda alguna. Por eso un hombre acorralado acude a Ud. Con sencillez.
EN: But the night watchman keeps the crowd at bay, shouting, "They are tired now.
ES: Pero el guarda tiene a la gente a raya, gritando: "Ahora están cansados.
EN: He just tried to kill a farmer with a pitchfork and he's standing at bay!
ES: Intentó matar a un granjero con una horca.
EN: -Let's hope we have better luck at bay Ridge. -Look, Steve, the Borodi case is coming to a head. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to put George and Olie back on it.
ES: - Steve, lo de Borodi es más urgente, voy a tener que destinar este caso a Georgie y a Olie.
EN: - I'll keep them at bay.
ES: - Les mantendré a raya.

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