keep a lid on
idiom
1
: to keep (something secret) from being known
She tried to keep a lid on the news.
2
: to control (something) : to keep (something) from becoming worse
The government has been unable to keep a lid on inflation.
Examples of keep a lid on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Both sides have grounds to claim victory that can, for at least some time, keep a lid on tensions.
—
Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
The good news: By harnessing AI and automation to keep a lid on expenses and avoid nasty surprises, companies can breathe easier when opening that cloud bill.
—Jyoti Bansal, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The Fed would likely keep interest rates higher to keep a lid on inflation, which is still significantly above its 2% target.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
And, even in the face of inflationary pressures and the Trump administration tariffs squeezing household budgets, Costco is trying to keep a lid on prices.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep a lid on
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Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
The good news: By harnessing AI and automation to keep a lid on expenses and avoid nasty surprises, companies can breathe easier when opening that cloud bill.
—Jyoti Bansal, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The Fed would likely keep interest rates higher to keep a lid on inflation, which is still significantly above its 2% target.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
And, even in the face of inflationary pressures and the Trump administration tariffs squeezing household budgets, Costco is trying to keep a lid on prices.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep a lid on
Cite this Entry
“Keep a lid on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20a%20lid%20on. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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