keep/hold in check

idiom

: to keep (something) under control
He's trying to hold his emotions in check.
The government has raised interest rates in an attempt to keep inflation in check.

Examples of keep/hold in check in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Daniels and the Commanders’ offense (and perhaps the ghosts that have haunted the Lions franchise for decades) were simply too tough to keep in check Saturday night. — Kevin Dotson, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025 After the game, the coach chose to keep in check the emotions that had to be bubbling up inside of him. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 13 May 2024

Browse Nearby Words

keep going
keep/hold in check
keep in

Cite this Entry

“Keep/hold in check.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%2Fhold%20in%20check. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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