under control
405
2.5
- idiom
:
bajo control
- After the fire, the firefighters ensured that the situation was under control.
- keep under control
- bring under control
- get under control
And those diseases started to really get under control for the first time.
- And those diseases started to really get under control for the first time.
- It's like, get your tongue straight, man, get it under control in the highest possible sense.
- And I think they're getting things kind of under control at this point, but it's it's crazy.
- You'd have to make up something to keep people in check and under control and to train them.
- I want to keep them under control, safe, content, and and happy.
- You're like good job Simone, you got the situation under control and you're burning shit up.
- OK, all right, it's all under control here.
- Yeah, I think let's let's just keep those feet like under control.
- We have to get this obesity crisis under control.
- The meek, you know, for me, meekness is power under control.
- You can go down and you can lower the weight under control.
- So this is just a technique for trying to keep it under control.
Examples
-
And so if those of us who are raising teenagers can try to keep those two things under control, we'll just do a better job.
-
We thought we had it all under control.
-
I want to keep them under control, safe, content, and and happy.
-
Seems like you and your new partner have everything under control.
-
Everything here is under control.
-
You always seem to have things under control, Lucy.
-
Let's get the water level under control.
-
Chronic stress can only be brought under control by changing one's lifestyle.
Academic text (2000) -
In 1989, the government managed to bring this hyperinflation somewhat under control, but at great cost.
Academic text (1990) -
And Redfield said if everyone wore masks, we could get this virus under control in just six to eight weeks.
Synonyms
Kept within limits by careful management
How Controlled
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'under control' is compositionally predictable: 'under' signals being subject to or beneath an influence and 'control' means direction or regulation, so together they clearly mean managed or restrained. This construction has close parallels in many languages (e.g., Spanish 'bajo control', French 'sous contrôle'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Under control gives the picture of keeping something under your control, like holding a restless animal with a rope or a steady hand so it stays calm. That's why it now means 'managed' or 'not chaotic'.