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keep the opposition at bay

[kiːp ðə ˌɒpəˈzɪʃən æt beɪ]
verb phrase
manter a oposição afastada
1. To prevent opponents or adversaries from getting close or gaining advantage; to maintain distance from rivals or competitors
The team managed to keep the opposition at bay throughout the match with strong defensive tactics.
O time conseguiu manter a oposição afastada durante toda a partida com táticas defensivas fortes.
2. To prevent critics or opponents from attacking or undermining one's position
The politician worked hard to keep the opposition at bay during the election campaign.
O político trabalhou duro para manter a oposição afastada durante a campanha eleitoral.
Synonyms
hold offward offrepelfend offresistdefend againstkeep at a distance
Antonyms
surrender togive in tosuccumb toallow close approach

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
manter a oposição afastada; manter a oposição distante
Common usage in sports and political contexts
São Paulo
manter a oposição longe; afastar a oposição
Slightly more informal variant
Portugal
manter a oposição afastada; manter a oposição à distância
More formal European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

keep someone at arm's length
keep someone at a distance
hold the line
stand one's ground
defend one's position
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