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
Fruit flies will still find rotten food thrown in the trash and drink cans that still contain liquid, so keep a lid on the bins for extra protection.
—
Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
Eisenhower was determined to reverse, and then keep a lid on, the growth of federal debt.
—Robert Hormats, Time, 3 July 2025
That scenario could help to keep a lid on inflation, which can be fueled by rising levels of government spending.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 19 May 2025
The good news is that lower energy prices could help keep a lid on inflation by offsetting a rise in consumer goods hit by tariffs, but cheaper oil is a potential warning sign for the direction of the economy as a whole.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep a lid on
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Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
Eisenhower was determined to reverse, and then keep a lid on, the growth of federal debt.
—Robert Hormats, Time, 3 July 2025
That scenario could help to keep a lid on inflation, which can be fueled by rising levels of government spending.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 19 May 2025
The good news is that lower energy prices could help keep a lid on inflation by offsetting a rise in consumer goods hit by tariffs, but cheaper oil is a potential warning sign for the direction of the economy as a whole.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 30 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 21 Jul. 2025.
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