stem the tide

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

stem the tide (third-person singular simple present stems the tide, present participle stemming the tide, simple past and past participle stemmed the tide)

1. (idiomatic) To slow or stop the flow of something.
   • 2024 February 20, “UN Food Agency pauses deliveries to the North of Gaza”, in World Food Program‎^[1]:

     The plan was to send 10 trucks of food for seven straight days, to help stem the tide of hunger and desperation and to begin building trust in communities that there would be enough food for all.

   The news report stemmed the tide of concerned calls, but didn't stop them altogether.