Idiom
keep someone or something in check and hold someone or something in check
Theme: CONTROL
to keep someone or something under control; to restrain someone or something.Hang on to this rope to keep the dog in check.I was so angry I could hardly hold myself in check.
Idiom
hold in checkhold/keep (something/someone) in check
to keep something or someone under control, usually to stop them becoming too large or too powerful.The natural order of things is that the predators of an animal keep the population in check.The central banks' action seemed at the time to be holding the dollar in check.