Christina Moreira (asker) Sep 25, 2013:

Thank you all for the inputs. I agree with the colleagues saying that is needed a little interpretation without sticking to the term itself. From the general context the author's intention is exactly what Martin Riordan and BV1 both said: preventing to become a problem by means of a choice. I'll use this idea to choose the words conveying the meaning intended and take it into consideration to award the points here. Thanks!

axies Sep 25, 2013:

@Christina Moreira A lot depends on what is said before this terminological jargon that you ask us to help you with. It is related to something that is being discussed.
To keep project duration/costs at bay, for these that understand how the building and construction industry operates can mean lots of things; i.e. New works,Trade Unions regulations, employer/employes/government disputes, economical, social hardship etc. etc.
Can you give us what comes before that? The previous paragraph(s) for instance.
Thank you

Martin Riordan Sep 24, 2013:

at bay? I agree that it was a poor choice of words by the author, and from the context I feel that he means "to prevent it becoming a problem".

To avoid project duration becoming a problem (going past the desired deadline) will cost more money, and to keep the budget under control will postpone the deadline. Either way there is a problem.

airmailrpl Sep 24, 2013:

writer probably meant : in abeyance hold something in abeyance
to stall or postpone something

abeyance - definition of abeyance by the Free Online Dictionary ...
www.thefreedictionary.com/abeyance‎
The condition of being temporarily set aside; suspension: held the plan in abeyance.

airmailrpl Sep 24, 2013:

poor choice of word by source text writer: keep something/somebody at bay
to prevent something or someone unpleasant from coming too near you or harming you

keep somebody at bay also hold somebody at bay
to prevent someone from moving closer He held the police at bay with a gun for several hours.
See also: bay, keep

keep something at bay also hold something at bay
to control something and prevent it from causing you problems
http://www.idioms.thefreedictionary.com/keep at bay

keep at bay
see definition of keep at bay
as in fight back/fight off
as in rebuff
as in repel
as in ward/ward off
as in hold the line
http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/keep at bay

'Keep at bay'
If you keep someone or something at bay, you maintain a safe distance from them.
http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/keep at bay.htm...

keep something at bay

Meaning: If you keep something at bay, you stop something that could be a problem for you from getting too close or from getting worse.
http://www.englishclub.com/ref/esl/Idioms/K/keep_something_a...

Marlene Curtis Sep 24, 2013:

The usual meaning of "at bay" found in dictionaries as per the example mentioned by you, i.e, "keep your cat/dog/flu at bay FROM me" does not fit into the above context and, therefore, a little interpretation work is needed here.

axies Sep 24, 2013:

@Marlene Curtis This is what you said in your answer:
keep at bay = hold back = atrasar

But: these English words above are synonymous words, not the implied meaning for the right translation in this question asked.
I.e. Keep the/your cat/dog/ flu at bay from me :-
It isn't the same as: Hold back your cat/dog flu from me:-
cheers