hold somebody in check

But, he says, this is one case where he'll hold himself in check.

The little man held himself in check with great effort.

The great man looked away, his anger held in check.

The common people, then, are not the only ones who need their emotions held in check!

Anger shot through him, but he held it in check.

But once they begin this process, I'm not sure they're going to be able to hold it in check.

I'm not positive he can hold them in check that long.

I was burning with questions, but held them in check.

Most of the time, I could hold it in check.

Military research and development would have been held in check.