adjective
forced to turn and face attackers (Freq. 4)
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a stag at bay
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she had me cornered between the porch and her car
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like a trapped animal
• Similar to: ↑unfree
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AT A DISTANCE, away, off, at arm's length.
→ bay
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at bay
▪ To face the dogs at close quarters
▪ To face one's pursuers
● bay
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forced to confront one's attackers or pursuers; cornered
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at bay
: in the position of being unable to move closer while attacking or trying to approach someone
The soldiers kept the attackers at bay. [=they did not allow the attackers to come closer]
Armed with a gun, he held the police at bay [=he did not allow the police to arrest him] for 10 hours.
— often used figuratively
Although the doctors had been able to keep her illness at bay [=to prevent her illness from becoming worse] for a few months, the disease soon began to spread again.
• • •
Main Entry: ↑bay
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at ˈbay idiom
when an animal that is being hunted is at bay, it must turn and face the dogs and ↑hunters because it is impossible to escape from them
Useful english dictionary. 2012.