at bay

Prepositional phrase

1. (idiomatic, set phrase) Unable to come closer; at a distance.
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   at a distance, at arm's length, away, back

2. (idiomatic, set phrase) Cornered; unable to flee.
   • The hills, like giants at a hunting, lay / Chin upon hand, to see the game at bay,— / "Now stab and end the creature - to the heft!"1855, Robert Browning, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, section XXXI
   • 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

   Synonyms:

   cornered, trapped

3. Of an animal, especially a docile animal in contrast to a predatory animal which would be blazoned statant: standing, in profile toward dexter, with all four feet on the ground. (If gazing at the viewer, the animal is at gaze.)