In check

ATBAY

Think of a phrase used when something dangerous is temporarily kept away, like a predator held back by hunters.

"In check" hints at a chess term where a king is under threat. The answer "ATBAY" plays on the phrase "at bay," meaning held off or unable to move freely—just like a king in check. The wordplay swaps "bay" (a body of water or a cornered position) for a homophone that fits the chess context. It’s a clever twist on a common expression.