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

During the inflation crisis, the company wielded its size and savvy to keep a lid on prices — and now that inflation is back to normal, the retailer is still winning over shoppers who are seeking out affordable groceries and sharp general merchandise. —Nathan Bomey, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024

But for now the markets appear to be bracing for muted prices, a situation that should keep a lid on gas prices. —Matt Egan, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024

But then a series of incidents, including street clashes between supporters and opponents of the compulsory veiling followed by the detention and death of Amini, upended any possibility that Raisi’s government could simply keep a lid on tensions between the state and Iranian society. —Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2022

Analysts took the stock to a hold-equivalent rating from outperform on the belief that headwinds in its theme park business will keep a lid on the stock. —Paulina Likos, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2024